At least four people died when an Iranian army helicopter crashed into a fruit and vegetable market in central Iran on Tuesday, officials confirmed. The incident occurred in Dorcheh, near the city of Isfahan, during what state media said was a training flight, leaving debris and smoke at the busy marketplace.
The helicopter went down in the wholesale produce market area of Dorcheh, roughly 330 kilometres south of Tehran, catching emergency teams by surprise. Local responders quickly arrived at the scene and extinguished a fire sparked by the impact, according to state television reports.
Iran Army Helicopter Crash: Victims Identified: Military Crew and Civilians
Officials reported that both the pilot and co-pilot were killed on impact. Two market vendors who were working at their stalls when the helicopter crashed also lost their lives, bringing the confirmed death toll to four.
Iranian Army training helicopter crashed in Dorcheh, Khomeini Shahr (Isfahan Province), inside a wholesale fruit and vegetable market compound.
Both the pilot and co-pilot were killed.
No confirmed reports of additional casualties on the ground.#iran #iranprotests pic.twitter.com/mVPU7OL6Bx— Afshin Ismaeli (@Afshin_Ismaeli) February 24, 2026
State media broadcasts showed destroyed fruit stands and blackened debris scattered across the marketplace. Authorities have not yet released a full list of the victims’ names, but confirmed the tragic loss of life.
Iran Army Helicopter Crash: What Caused the Helicopter to Crash?
Officials have not yet given a definitive cause for the crash. Preliminary reports suggest the incident may have been triggered by a “technical malfunction,” though this remains unconfirmed pending a formal investigation by military aviation authorities.
Iranian safety experts have long warned that sanctions-related restrictions on spare parts and maintenance can contribute to aviation accidents, especially involving older military aircraft. These systemic challenges could play a role in repeated incidents, analysts say.
Iran Army Helicopter Crash: Second Military Crash in Less Than a Week
This helicopter crash comes on the heels of another recent military aviation accident in Iran. Last week, a U.S.-built F-4 fighter jet belonging to Iran’s regular air force crashed near Hamedan during a training flight, killing one pilot.
🚨 An Army helicopter has crashed into a wholesale grocery market in Dorcheh, Isfahan Province.
Casualties confirmed:
• Pilot & Co-pilot killed
• 2 civilians killedThe crash occurred within the market’s compound. Rescue teams are on-site.#Iran pic.twitter.com/W4YAQPzIW0
— Living in Tehran (LiT) (@LivinginTehran) February 24, 2026
The string of incidents has put renewed attention on Iran’s aviation safety record, which has historically seen repeated crashes involving both military and civilian aircraft.
Impact on Local Community and Response Operations
The market in Dorcheh is a central hub for produce sellers and buyers, and Tuesday’s crash disrupted business activity in the area. Emergency crews worked to clear wreckage, secure the crash site, and prevent further hazards from potential fuel spills or structural collapses.
Authorities also cordoned off the region as investigators began gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analysing flight data to determine the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
Helicopter Crash Iran: Iran’s Aviation Safety Challenges
Iran’s aviation sector has faced persistent safety challenges for years. Experts and some state media have noted that the difficulty in acquiring original spare parts for aircraft maintenance, due to decades-long sanctions, has left the country reliant on aging helicopters and airplanes.
These limitations are frequently cited by analysts as factors that contribute to equipment failures and accidents, particularly in the military domain, where older aircraft remain in active use.
Iran Army Helicopter Crash: Probe and Preventative Measures
Officials have vowed a comprehensive investigation to uncover the exact cause of Tuesday’s crash. Military and aviation engineers will examine maintenance records, witness evidence, and flight logs in hopes of preventing similar tragedies in the future.
For families of the victims and residents of Dorcheh, the focus now is on recovery and understanding what went wrong in an accident that cut short multiple lives in a crowded civilian area.
