Accidents
Iran Grounds Aseman Airlines' ATRs Following Crash
Search for bodies, FDR, and CVR suspended due to harsh weather

Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization has grounded all five of Aseman Airlines’ remaining ATR turboprops pending a thorough safety check following the February 18 crash of one of the carrier’s ATR 72-200s, according to the country’s official IRNA news agency. The 66-seat airplane had taken off from Tehran on a scheduled flight to the southwestern Iranian city of Yasuj when it struck a mountaintop in central Iran during a period of poor visibility, killing all 65 people aboard. The ATR reportedly had re-entered service just months ago after a seven-year grounding due to lack of parts availability. The airline, however, already has ruled out technical failure, instead blaming weather conditions. Weather reports indicated high winds and fog in the area at the time of the crash.