---
title: "Iranian military helicopter crashes into fruit market, four dead"
description: "An Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a fruit market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday, killing the pilot, co-pilot and two merchants, state media reported."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "World"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-24-iranian-military-helicopter-crashes-into-fruit-market-four-dead/"
published: "2026-02-24T11:53:39"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 84
---

# Iranian military helicopter crashes into fruit market, four dead

> An Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a fruit market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday, killing the pilot, co-pilot and two merchants, state media reported.

By Reuters · Published 24 February 2026, 13:53 SAST

## Content

The helicopter came down in the city of Dorcheh, causing a fire that was put out by emergency services, the reports added.

Experts say Iran has a poor air safety record, with repeated crashes, many involving aircraft bought before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and lacking original spare parts for maintenance.

Last week, a U.S.-built F-4 fighter belonging to Iran's regular air force crashed in the western province of Hamadan, killing one pilot during a training flight.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Andrew Heavens)