2001 Faraz Qeshm Airlines Yak-40 crash

The 2001 Faraz Qeshm Airlines Yak-40 crash occurred on 17 May 2001 when a short-haul trijet Yakovlev Yak-40 being operated by Faraz Qeshm Airlines crashed while en route to Gorgan Airport from Tehran-Mehrabad Airport in Iran. The aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain while flying in poor weather conditions about twenty kilometers south of Sari killing all thirty people on board. Passengers aboard the aircraft included Rahman Dadman, Iran's Minister of Roads and Transportation, and six members of parliament.[1]

2001 Faraz Qeshm Airlines Yak-40 crash
A Yak-40, similar to the one involved.
Accident
Date17 May 2001 (2001-05-17)
SummaryCrashed into terrain while maneuvering in poor weather
SiteAlborz Mountains, Iran
36°26′24.7″N 53°12′26.4″E / 36.440194°N 53.207333°E / 36.440194; 53.207333
Aircraft
Aircraft typeYakovlev Yak-40
OperatorFaraz Qeshm Airlines
RegistrationEP-TQP
Flight originTehran-Mehrabad Airport (THR/OIII), Iran
DestinationGorgan Airport (GBT/OING), Iran
Occupants30
Passengers25
Crew5
Fatalities30

Aircraft and crew

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The Yakovlev Yak-40 operated by Faraz Qeshm Airlines was on lease from Armenian Airlines and the crew, including both pilots, consisted of Armenian nationals.[2]

Accident

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On 17 May 2001, a Russian-built Yakovlev Yak-40, registration EP-TQP, operated by Faraz Qeshm Airlines took off from Tehran-Mehrabad Airport at 06:45 and proceeded northeast to Gorgan Airport with a crew of five and twenty-five passengers which included Iran's Transportation Minister Rahman Dadman, other ministry staff, including Arsalan Raahemi and six members of parliament. They were part of a delegation to inaugurate the opening of Gorgan Airport, according to Golestan Province Governor Ali Asghar Ahmadi.[3]

While flying in deteriorating weather conditions, which included heavy rains, the aircraft was struck by lightning possibly affecting its navigational equipment. About ten minutes before its scheduled arrival, the pilot communicated to air traffic control that they would either have to make an emergency landing or divert to another airport.[4] At around 07:45 the aircraft crashed in a heavily forested section of the Alborz Mountains, thirteen miles southeast of the city of Sari, between Gorgan and Shahroud.[5]

Passengers and crew

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All of the passengers aboard the aircraft were Iranian nationals. The crew members were Armenian nationals from Armenian Airlines.[2]

Nationality Passengers Crew Total
Armenia 0 5 5
Iran 25 0 25
Total 25 5 30

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Harro Ranter (17 May 2001). "ASN Aircraft accident Yakovlev 40 EP-TQP Sari". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "سانحه ای که آتش به جان گلستانیها زد" [The accident that killed the Golestan people]. Shomal News (in Persian). 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Iran minister dies in plane crash". CNN. 17 May 2001. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Iranian ministers among 30 dead in Yak-40 crash". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Crash kills Iran officials". Deseret News. 17 May 2001. Retrieved 24 January 2018.