Iranian Su-22 Warplane Crashes Killing Pilot

A Sukhoi Su-22 fighter jet belonging to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has crashed in southern Iran near the city of Sarvestan, Fars Province today.

A statement by the Public Relations Department of the IRGC Aerospace Force says the pilot has lost his life in the crash, which happened on Saturday at 8 am (local time).

The fighter jet was in the middle of military exercises when it crashed, state-run IRINN TV reported. No further information was given.

Last month, an Iranian light plane crashed in Kerman city in southeastern Kerman Province.

A similar incident occurred last year in December, killing the pilot, when an ultra-light gyroplane belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force crashed in Saravan airport.

In October 2016, another military plane crashed in Iranshahr city in southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province, killing the pilot and co-pilot. The ultra-light plane was returning from a reconnaissance operation, when the incident occurred near the Iran-Pakistan border.