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An Iranian army helicopter crashed Tuesday morning into a fruit and vegetable market in central Iran, killing four people, state media reported.
The aircraft belonged to the Iranian army’s Air Force and went down in Isfahan province, according to state TV.
“Unfortunately, the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the incident,” state TV reported earlier, without specifying the cause.
The official IRNA news agency later said the pilot, co-pilot, and two fruit vendors on the ground were killed.
Local reports said the helicopter crashed in the Darcheh area of Khomeyni Shahr County in Isfahan province.
Mehr news agency reported that the aircraft was conducting a training exercise at the time of the incident.
The crash occurred inside the compound of a wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Darcheh, according to local media.
IRNA attributed the crash to a “technical malfunction.”
Authorities have not released further details about the type of helicopter involved.
Sanctions-hit Iran has suffered several air disasters in recent years, with officials citing difficulties in acquiring spare parts to maintain its ageing aircraft fleet.
On Thursday, an Iranian fighter jet crashed during a late-night training exercise in western Hamedan province, killing one of the two pilots on board, the state broadcaster reported.
The incident took place as tensions between Iran and the United States remain elevated.
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said “everything is on the table” in Washington’s approach to Iran, as the United States expands its military presence across the Middle East.
“Iran should make a deal. Iran has an opportunity to make a deal. That’s the outcome the president would prefer,” Hegseth told reporters during a visit to Colorado.
There is no indication that Tuesday’s helicopter crash is linked to broader regional tensions. Initial reports point to a technical malfunction during a training flight.
Iranian authorities have not yet announced further investigation details.
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