The incident took place on Sunday morning north of Mehrabad International Airport, IRNA reported. The plane crashed into the Azadi residential block on Shishe Mina Boulevard.

The Antonov An-140 aircraft belonged to a domestic airline and was scheduled to travel from Tehran to the northeastern city of Tabas when the incident occurred.

A senior aviation official has said 48 people, among them several children, were on board the plane when it smashed into the ground. All passengers and crew members are feared dead.

NTJ/HH