The aircraft went down in Hamadan Province, where thick smoke and flames were seen rising from the crash site shortly after impact. According to Iranian media, the jet had taken off on a standard training mission with two pilots on board and was assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Squadron.

Reports by Tehran Times said the crew encountered a ‘suspicious situation’ mid flight, prompting them to abort the mission and steer the aircraft back toward base. In what aviation experts described as a display of calm under pressure, the pilots managed to guide the troubled jet back toward Hamadan Air Base.

For a moment, it appeared they had turned the tide. However, just minutes before landing, the situation took a sudden turn. When the landing gear was deployed, the aircraft reportedly began to shake violently and lost stability. Witnesses said the jet wobbled in the air, then plunged to the ground, bursting into flames on impact.

An Iranian military spokesperson confirmed that one of the two pilots lost his life, while the other survived. The identity of the deceased pilot has not yet been released. Officials emphasized that the flight was part of a routine training schedule and that the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.

In a brief statement, the Air Force’s public relations office said a formal inquiry is underway to determine whether mechanical failure, human error, or another factor was responsible. So far, authorities have not disclosed the type of aircraft involved.

Speculation briefly circulated on social media suggesting the possibility of friendly fire. However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force has not issued any official comment on the claim, and local reports indicate that the possibility has been dismissed.

Military aviation experts note that training flights, while essential for combat readiness, often test both machines and men to their limits. Even seasoned pilots can find themselves in split second situations where experience meets uncertainty.

For now, investigators are piecing together flight data and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the aircraft’s final moments. Until then, the crash stands as a stark reminder that even routine drills can carry extraordinary risks and that in the sky, the margin for error is razor thin.