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Iranian aircraft crash caught on new video

by Grant Martin (RSS feed) on Jun 3rd 2011 at 2:30PM

2009's crash of an Iranian military aircraft was a terrible loss of life and technology. Emerging this week is a new perspective of the crash, captured from the back of a C130 that happened to be refueling an F-4 Phantom in the area. In the video, you can clearly see the Iranian aircraft spiraling out of control and tumbling down to earth, a haunting image captured purely by accident.

The new footage gives some insight into what the final moments of any plane crash must be like, a dizzying array of motion, confusion and terror. It's enough to make one consider taking a long, quiet break from air travel.

[Editor's note: the scenes from this video are graphic]

[Via Gizmodo]

Filed under: Iran, Middle East

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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 16)

Ryan Jun 4th 2011 2:29PM

Iran flies F4 Phantoms dummy. Before '79 they were allies with the US and they've managed to keep them operational. Don't act smart and then say dumb things.

photovue Jun 5th 2011 3:38PM

It was an F-4 that the U.S. sold to Iran, idiot.

a man Jun 4th 2011 3:20PM

Billa, I didn't notice the expletive until you pointed it out. Good ears, my friend. To Seadog---how do we know it's a Caspian Airways airplane? Because that is what the Iranian government told us what crashed (one), and (two) our own press and government are not so ignorant as to publish something that important as a HEADLINE without researching it----Then again, it is AOL.

rieko Jun 4th 2011 3:30PM

This wasn't a civilian aircraft. The person who made the video screwed up on the naming(no surprise for youtube.) The aircraft was a IL-76 AWACS formerly owned by the Iraqi airforce. I found a better summary "The IRIAF Il-76MD "Simorgh" jet was destroyed in an accident near Tehran, killing all seven crew members. The "Simogorh" is an Il-76 jet modified with a radar dome on top of the fuselage for airborne early warning and control (AEW&C). It has been reported that the crew reported an engine fire. While maneuvering for an emergency landing at Tehran-Mehrabad Airport (THR) runway 29L the radar dome detached, striking the tail fin. Control was lost and the airplane crashed."

Rokgoo Jun 4th 2011 3:35PM

You are right. The video is from am Iranian tanker airplane because the men you can hear, inside the tanker, talks in Persian.

Geo Jun 4th 2011 3:47PM

Yes, any article linked from AOL, especially one that has a fancy name like "Gadling" followed by the AOL logo, is going to be filled with inaccuracies and assumptions. Blogs are silly, and this is a blog...Marlo Thomas anyone? But the biggest offender is The Huffington Post connection that all AOL users are now forced into with just about every politically themed news story. All this said, I still appreciate the fact that I had never seen this footage before today, so I guess it's just a matter of sifting through the nonsense.

John Jun 4th 2011 6:04PM

I believe the only thing that is said in english is "sh*t", and it's said with an accent that doesn't necessarly sound american. Nearly everything else said doesn't sound like english or spoken with an american accent.

Al Schrader Jun 4th 2011 6:49PM

I actually built parts of F4 Phantoms when I worked for McDonnell Douglas.
There is an F4 on public display at the TICO Valiant Air Command hangar in Florida that you can walk up to and touch. They also have two Russian MiGs. The F4 is basically two engines with wings. If both engines fail, it's time to eject.

I've been asked to work on the F35, but I don't like 40 below temps. You probably guessed that I'm one of the best there is.

Pat Jun 4th 2011 12:46PM

A real journalist would have had an explination as to why it crashed and not just a videw. Maybe a few more years in school would teach you something on reporting news Which by the way happened a back in 2009.

B Jun 4th 2011 1:15PM

Yea, Waaayyyyy back in 2009. Maybe a dinosaur knocked it out of the sky!

Pat Jun 4th 2011 1:24PM

Ya maybe but we will never know untill a professional journalist gets the facts. Not like I really care but it would be nice to get the facts it is his job. Cmon Grant get your stuff together.

wapitiwme Jun 4th 2011 4:00PM

You have to remember that this is the Huff. Post/AOL. Therefore there is no requirement to meet journalistic minimums.

Les Jun 5th 2011 11:36AM

I don't think Iran had F-4's; only F-14's. Curious to know whose F-4 and
C-130 was flying that day.

bouncer827 Jun 4th 2011 12:57PM

what is terribly interesting about this crash is the RF 4C being refueled. I just wonder how they got their hands on that nifty Viet Nam era aircraft; they being the Iranians. I wonder what Repulican President gave them the money to buy the aircraft from the old USA. Case you forgot, that Republican President's initials started were RR and had something to do about trading arms in Cen. America to guerillas for cash under some guy with the initials of O. N.

Keith Jun 4th 2011 1:19PM

Actually,

The F-4 sales to Iran were in the 1970s, to the US friendly Shah of Iran. This was prior to the overthrow of the Shah by the Islamic fundamentalists. At this point in 1979, the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) became the IRIAF (Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. These aircraft were delivered prior to Reagan. Hmmmm, can you say Carter era?

iceman26 Jun 4th 2011 1:19PM

How do people like you continue to exist? You are so scorched and mis-directed by the Bull uttered by Dems, that you truly show you have taken leave of your senses. IF it had not been for Pres. Reagan, we would have had to deal with their incursion into atomic bombs, and the like, a long time ago. If it weren't for Dems in leadership positions we would still be the world's greatest country, afraid of no one and bowing to no one.