TERRIBLE

Iranian Passenger Plane Crashes Into Mountains, Killing 65

Rescue helicopters have been unable to reach the crash site due to hazardous weather conditions.

An Iranian passenger plane crashed in a mountainous area of the country on Sunday, killing all 65 people on board, local media reported. The Aseman Airlines plane went down in the town of Semirom, not far from its destination in Yasuj. Authorities said rescue helicopters have been unable to reach the crash site due to foggy weather conditions. “After searching the area, we learned that unfortunately ... our dear passengers had lost their lives,” a spokesman for the airline, Mohammad Taghi Tabatabai, told state TV. Authorities said 59 passengers and six crew members were on board, lowering the death toll to 65 from an earlier reported 66. An investigation has been opened into the cause of the crash.