More than 170 perish as Ukrainian plane crashes in Iran

A Ukrainian airliner has crashed shortly after take-off, killing all 176 aboard. The plane developed technical problems after taking off from Iran’s Imam Khomeini airport. It burst into fire on impact.

Despite a number of ambulances and a chopper being in standby, the rescuers have not succeeded in rescuing anybody, citing the intense fire.

“The fire is so heavy that we cannot (do) any rescue… we have 22 ambulances, four bus ambulances and a helicopter at the site,” said Pirhossein Koulivand,  head of Iran’s emergency services.

The Boeing 737 belonging to the Ukraine International Airlines was bound for Kiev , Ukraine’s capital.

“An investigation team from the national aviation department was dispatched to the location after the news was announced. We will give more reports in upcoming bulletins,” Reza Jafarzadeh, spokesman of the Iranian Aviation Organisation told reporters in Tehran, Iran.