A Sepahan Air Iran-140 (the Iranian-build version of the An-140) crashed shortly after takeoff from Mehrabad Airport Sunday killing at least 39 of the 48 people on board. The nine injured were taken to hospital with various injuries. The Tehran Times reported that an engine failure was being cited as a contributing factor. The accident occurred after a government committee reported concerns over the safety of the aircraft after touring the assembly plant. All Iran-140s have now been grounded.
The Majlis Development Committee, which raised the concerns, is now in charge of investigating the crash. The committee has been pointed in its criticism saying the Iran Civil Aviation Organization shouldn’t have certified the aircraft.
