Iranian website reports pilot dies after fighter jet crashes
An Iranian fighter jet crashed Saturday during a training exercise and the pilot was killed, the website of the elite Revolutionary Guards reported.
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 12:00 | 11 November 2017
- Modified Date: 01:18 | 11 November 2017
The website of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard reports that a pilot has died after his Sukhoi-22 jet fighter-bomber crashed in the country's south.
The Saturday report on sepahnews.com said the plane was taking part in a morning exercise in southern Fars province when it crashed. It did not elaborate.
Iran has a history of air accidents blamed on its aging aircraft and poor maintenance.
Iran has both Russian-made and U.S.-made fighter planes. The U.S. aircraft were delivered to Tehran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution that ousted the western-backed monarchy. Iran purchased Sukhoi fighter-bombers from Russia after the revolution.
It also has restored some Sukhoi-22s from Iraq in 1991.