FLOP GUNS: Iranian Pilots Die As They Crash Fighter Jet

Story By:  Ana MarjanovicSub-EditorMichael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

Two Iranian pilots died when their F7 fighter jet crashed to the ground during a training exercise.

The incident took place soon after the pilots had taken off from the Shahid Babaei Airbase, Isfahan, at around 8.10am on 24th May.

After taking off from Isfahan City, the pilots flew towards Anarak on a training mission.

Major Qasem Zamani (pictured) died after the F-7 training aircraft he was in crashed in Isfahan province of Iran on 24th May 2022. (Newsflash)

However, their Chinese-made jet crashed about 200 kilometres (124 miles) east of their take off point.

Local officials confirmed that both pilots, named as Major Qassem Zamani and First Lieutenant Mohammad Javad, were killed in the crash.

According to reports, military sources have blamed the crash on a “technical fault”.

An investigation is ongoing.

First Lieutenant Mohammad Javad Bai (pictured) died after the F-7 training aircraft he was in crashed in Isfahan province of Iran on 24th May 2022. (Newsflash)

In recent weeks, the country has been experiencing poor air quality that has led to the closure of universities, schools, and government buildings in multiple Iranian provinces including Isfahan and Tehran.

Meanwhile, military experts have criticised Iran’s air safety record due to a high record of plane crashes mostly involving aircraft from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution that were lacking maintenance of spare parts.

Two Iranian pilots were killed in February when their F5 jet crashed into a school wall in the north-western city of Tabriz, also killing a civilian on the ground.