An Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a fruit and vegetable market in the town of Dorcheh in Isfahan province on February 24, 2026, killing four people and prompting an emergency response, authorities said.
Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency reported that the military aircraft was on a training flight when it suddenly plummeted into the busy market area, sending up thick plumes of smoke and scattering debris among stalls and bystanders. State television footage showed rescue workers and firefighters at the scene, battling flames and clearing wreckage amid cries from onlookers.
Officials said the dead included the pilot and co-pilot aboard the helicopter as well as two civilians who were working at the market when the aircraft descended. No additional casualties were immediately confirmed, though several people were treated for injuries caused by falling debris or smoke inhalation.
A preliminary inquiry suggested a technical malfunction might have caused the crash, though a formal investigation is expected to follow. Authorities have not released a detailed timeline of events leading up to the accident.
The incident deepens concerns about Iran’s aging military aviation fleet, which has faced repeated accidents in recent years attributed to older aircraft and parts shortages linked to longstanding economic sanctions.
