An Iranian passenger plane today crashed into the country's Zagros mountains with more than 50 people on board, the head of the country's emergency services told local media.
“This plane has crashed in the Semirom area and all emergency forces are on alert. The plane had 50 to 60 passengers,” Pir Hossein Koolivand told the Fars news agency.
The plane was reportedly travelling from Tehran to the small town of Yasuj in Isfahan province.
Semirom lies in the mountainous southwestern region of Iran, around 480 kilometres south of the capital.
“An ATR aircraft of Aseman Airlines with 60 passengers and about six crew disappeared from radar this morning,” Aladin Borujerdi, head of parliaments national security and foreign policy commission, told the semi-official ISNA news agency.
“Observation by people (in the area) indicates a crash,” he said, adding that he was still awaiting confirmation.
Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman for the national emergency services, said that a helicopter had been sent to the area.
“Given the fact that the area is mountainous, it is not possible to send ambulances,” he said.