View source for 2005 Iranian Air Force C-130 crash

{{Short description|Air crash in Tehran}}
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{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| occurrence_type = Accident
| name            = 2005 Iranian Air Force C-130 crash
| image           = C-130E Iran Air Force THR May 2011.jpg
| alt             = 
| caption         = An [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|Iranian air force]] [[C-130E Hercules]] similar to the aircraft that crashed
| date            = {{start-date|December 6, 2005|December 6, 2005}}
| type            = Crashed into structure
| site            = Hasanabad-e Baqeraf, near [[Mehrabad International Airport]], [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]
| coordinates     = {{coord|35|42|N|51|25|E|source:kolossus-plwiki|display=inline,title}}
| total_fatalities = 106
| total_injuries  = 90
| last_stopover   = 
| destination     = [[Bandar Abbas International Airport]], [[Bandar Abbas]], Iran
| occupants       = 94
| passengers      = 84
| crew            = 10
| fatalities      = 94
| survivors       = 0
| aircraft_type   = [[Lockheed C-130E Hercules]]
| tail_number     = {{IRIAF serial|5|8519}}
| origin          = Mehrabad International Airport, Tehran, Iran
| operator        = [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force]]
| ground_fatalities = 12
| ground_injuries = 90
}}
<!---{{Location map | Iran Tehran 
| width   = 
| lat_deg = 35.7
| lon_deg =  51.416667
| label   = Crash site
| relief = yes
| caption = Location of the crash site in Tehran 
}}--->

On 6 December 2005 (Azar 15, 1384) at 14:10 local time (10:40 [[UTC]]), a [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] military [[Cargo aircraft|transport aircraft]] of the  [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force]], tail number ''{{IRIAF serial|5|8519}}'', c/n 4399, crashed into a ten-story [[apartment building]] in a residential area of [[Tehran]], the capital city of Iran.

== Accident ==
The aircraft, bound for [[Bandar Abbas]] on the [[Persian Gulf]], was carrying 10 crew and 84 passengers,<ref name=mehr>[http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=262551 Tragedy strikes Tehran] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728010633/http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=262551 |date=2009-07-28 }}; Mehr News</ref> of whom 68 were reportedly journalists en route to watch a series of military exercises off the country's southern coast.

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported engine problems and unsuccessfully attempted to make an emergency landing at the city's [[Mehrabad International Airport]], from which the aircraft had departed. The aircraft came down in a densely populated area of [[Hasanabad-e Baqeraf]], near Tehran, crashing into an apartment building where many Iranian air force personnel resided.

Iranian State media reported a death toll of 128 victims, and some other news agencies reported a toll of 116.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Iran Plane Crashes Into Building; 128 Dead|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1377274|quote=At least 128 people were killed}}</ref> However, an official accident report created by the [[Aviation Safety Network]] stated that 106 people had died, including 12 on the ground. All 94 on board the aircraft were killed.

==Casualties==
Tehran mayor [[Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf]] said that all 94 people on board, including 40 journalists, were killed upon impact. State radio reported at least 34 people were confirmed dead on the ground, putting the official death toll at 128. An Interior Ministry Spokesperson, Mojtaba Mir-Abdolahi, confirmed that 116 bodies were recovered from the site. However, it was later determined by the Aviation Safety Network that 12 people on the ground had died in the crash.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|date=6 December 2005|title=ASN Accident Description (Iranian Air Force [5-8519])|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20051206-0|access-date=23 December 2016|website=aviation-safety.net|publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}</ref>

The Mehr news agency reported that 40 journalists on board worked for the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting]], and the others were from the [[Islamic Republic News Agency]], [[Iranian Students' News Agency]] and [[Fars News Agency]], and several newspapers.<ref name=mehr/>

Iason Sowden of [[Global Radio News]] in Tehran said there were reports of charred bodies on the ground near the crash site. Sowden also said that one wing of the plane was lying in front of the building. Initial pictures shown on [[Sky News]] and [[CNN]] showed complete chaos at the scene. Earlier in the day, all children were advised to stay at home due to high levels of smog and pollution.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2005-12-06|title=Scores die in Iranian air crash|work=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4502966.stm|access-date=2021-09-28}}</ref>

[[Reuters]] reported that 28 people were transported to a nearby hospital. Iranian state radio reported that 90 people sustained serious injuries.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/business/businesstech/feeds/ap/2005/12/06/ap2373148.html Update 19: Fiery Plane Crash in Iran Kills 128 People]{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} [[Associated Press|AP]] via [[Forbes|Forbes.com]]: "90 were injured, Tehran state radio said."</ref> The head of Tehran's rescue services was quoted in an interview with the [[Iranian Students' News Agency]] as saying that 132 people had been injured.

==Engine problems==
According to the police, the pilot reported engine difficulties minutes after [[takeoff]]. An emergency landing was requested, but the aircraft crashed just short of the runway.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2005-12-07|title=Iranian plane crash leaves 116 dead|work=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|agency=[[Reuters]]|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1525244.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906003330/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1525244.htm|archive-date=2007-09-06|quote=Minutes after take off the pilot reported engine trouble and requested an emergency landing at Tehran's Mehrabad airport, but crashed just short of the runway, police said.}}</ref>

==Rescue operation==
[[File:December 2005 Iranian Air Force C-130 crash (11).jpg|thumb|Site of the crash]]
Eyewitnesses, whose accounts were carried on the BBC World Service, have stated that emergency crews arrived within three minutes of impact. [[SBS World News]] reported that [[riot police]] were called in to control onlookers who were blamed for blocking the access of emergency workers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2005/12/07/iran-plane-crash-kills-116 |title=Iran plane crash kills 116 |publisher=SBS News |date=7 December 2005 |accessdate=3 August 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808174244/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2005/12/07/iran-plane-crash-kills-116 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Context==
This crash was the deadliest [[Aviation accidents and incidents|aviation disaster]] in Iran since February 2003, when [[2003 Iran Ilyushin Il-76 crash|275 people were killed]] as a military transport aircraft crashed in southern Iran.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2005-12-06|title=110 killed in Iran plane crash|url=http://us.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/12/06/tehran.crash/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070326222917/http://us.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/12/06/tehran.crash/index.html|archive-date=2007-03-26|access-date=2021-09-28|work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Due to [[U.S. sanctions against Iran|U.S. sanctions]], Iran has been unable to buy new Western aircraft (whether commercial or military) or spare parts for existing aircraft from U.S. manufacturers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/rulings/ia051303.pdf |title=U.S. Treasury Sanctions Guidelines: Iran |access-date=2005-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051203184804/https://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/rulings/ia051303.pdf |archive-date=2005-12-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> American-built military planes now operating in Iran were purchased under the old regime during the 1970s. Iranian officials blamed the country's poor aviation record on the sanctions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7001350314 |title=Update: Tehran Plane Crash Death Toll At 119 |access-date=2005-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926223740/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7001350314 |archive-date=2007-09-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Aviation accidents and incidents]]
* [[1981 Iranian Air Force C-130 crash]]

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{wikinews|Military plane crash in Iran, at least 100 dead}}
* {{ASN accident|id=20051206-0}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in Iran}}
{{Aviation incidents and accidents in 2005}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iranian Air Force C-130 Crash, 2005}}
[[Category:2000s disasters in Iran]]
[[Category:2005 disasters in Asia]]
[[Category:2005 in Iran]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Iran]]
[[Category:Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2005]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Lockheed C-130 Hercules]]
[[Category:2005 in military history]]
[[Category:2000s in Tehran]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Iran]]
[[Category:December 2005 in Iran]]
[[Category:High-rise fires]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents caused by engine failure]]