TEHRAN, Iran – An Iranian police airplane flying to the country’s southeast crashed late Saturday, killing all seven people aboard, including a top police officer, the country’s official news agency reported.
The propeller Turbo Commander airplane crashed in the mountains outside of the provincial capital of Zahedan and searchers later found the wreckage, IRNA reported. The agency said the flight carried four passengers and three crew members.
Among those killed was Gen. Mahmoud Sadeqi, a senior police officer in charge of investigations, IRNA reported.
Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency says the plane took off from Tehran to head to southeastern Iran to investigate an incident involving an attack on police there, without elaborating.
Authorities offered no immediate explanation for the crash, though Iranian airlines, including those run by the state, are chronically strapped for cash, rely on aging planes and have a spotty maintenance record.