2005 Iranian Air Force C - 130 crash The 2005 Iranian Air Force C - 130 crash occurred on 6 December 2005 ( Azar 15 , 1384 ) at 14 : 10 local time ( 10 : 40 UTC ) when an Iranian Air Force C - 130E military transport aircraft , " 5 - 8519 " , c / n 4399 , crashed into a ten - floor apartment building in a residential area of Tehran , the capital city of Iran . The aircraft , bound for Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf , was carrying 10 crew and 84 passengers , of whom 68 were reportedly journalists en route to watch a series of military exercises off the country ' s southern coast . The exact cause of the crash is not yet known , but the pilot reported engine trouble shortly after takeoff . The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to make an emergency landing at the city ' s Mehrabad International Airport , from where the aircraft took off . The aircraft came down in a densely - populated area of Towhid , crashing into an apartment building where many Iranian Air Force personnel reside . Iranian State media reported a death toll of 128 victims , although some other news agencies reported a toll of 116 . All 94 on board the plane were killed . Casualties . Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that all 94 people on board , including 40 journalists , were killed upon impact . State radio reported at least 34 people were confirmed dead on the ground , putting the official death toll at 128 . An Interior Ministry Spokesperson , Mojtaba Mir - Abdolahi , has confirmed that 116 corpses have been recovered from the site . The Mehr news agency reports 40 journalists on board worked for the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting , and the others were from the Islamic Republic News Agency , Iranian Students ' News Agency and Fars News Agency , and several newspapers . Iason Sowden of Global Radio News in Tehran said there were reports of charred bodies on the ground near the crash site . Sowden also said that one wing of the plane was lying in front of the building . Initial pictures shown on Sky News and CNN showed complete chaos at the scene . Earlier in the day , all children were advised to stay at home due to high levels of smog and pollution . The number of wounded victims is still unclear . Reuters reported that 28 people were transported to a nearby hospital . Iranian state radio reported that 90 people sustained serious injuries . Doctor Panahi , head of Tehran ' s rescue services , was quoted in an interview with the Iranian Students ' News Agency as saying that 132 had been injured . Engine problems . According to the police , the pilot reported engine difficulties minutes after takeoff . An emergency landing was requested , but the aircraft crashed just short of the runway . According to the BBC World Service , allegations have surfaced that the crew restarted the aircraft ' s engines five times prior to take - off , but Iranian officials have fiercely denied this . Rescue operation . Eyewitnesses , whose accounts were carried on the BBC World Service , have stated that emergency crews arrived within three minutes of impact . SBS World News reported that riot police were called in to control onlookers who were blamed for blocking the access of emergency workers . Journalists attacked . BBC News reported that journalists at the scene were attacked by Iranian security forces , who confiscated their tapes . Iranian aircraft disasters . This crash is the deadliest aviation disaster in Iran since February 2003 when 302 people were killed as a military transport aircraft crashed in southern Iran . U . S . Sanctions . Due to U . S . sanction s , Iran is unable to buy new Western aircraft ( whether commercial or military ) , nor spare parts for existing aircraft from U . S . manufacturers . American - built military planes now operating in Iran were purchased under the old regime during the 1970s . Iranian officials blame the country ' s poor aviation record on the sanctions .