Military Rules Out Sabotage in Iran Plane Crash
TEHRAN — Iran’s armed forces chief of staff ruled out sabotage Saturday in a plane crash that killed the nation’s air force commander and four generals, saying it was caused by a technical failure.
Gen. Ali Shahbazi told Salam newspaper: “It is completely clear to us that the plane crash was solely caused by technical failure.â€
The plane carrying Brig. Gen. Mansour Sattari and his senior aides crashed Thursday night when it tried to land at Esfahan, Iran, after developing technical problems. Other victims of the crash were two colonels, a major, a captain and three lieutenants.
It was the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a plane crash claimed the lives of an air force chief and senior officers.
When asked why so many senior officers were on the same plane despite “past bitter experience,†Shahbazi said, “The reason is only efforts on the part of officials in saving facilities.â€
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