An incident involving a Mahan Air aircraft reportedly occurred at Mashhad International Airport in Iran during a United States airstrike, causing disruptions to a planned humanitarian mission to India, as per Iranian sources.
The affected aircraft, stationed at Mashhad airport and set to depart for New Delhi in the upcoming days as part of an aid operation, was intended to assist in the transportation of humanitarian supplies like medicines from India back to Iran, ANI reported.
Quoting ANI, the sources stated, “Mahan Air aircraft was hit by the US in an airstrike at Mashhad Airport. The plane was scheduled to fly to Delhi for humanitarian aid.”
As of now, there has been no official confirmation from the United States regarding the alleged strike.
The timing of this event coincides with Iran’s collaborative efforts with India on humanitarian shipments. Recently, New Delhi sent aid consignments to Iran, emphasizing the enduring cultural and humanitarian connections between the two nations.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation condemned the incident as a “war crime” and a breach of international law, highlighting that the targeted aircraft was involved in a humanitarian mission carrying medicines and medical equipment from multiple countries.
The organisation stressed that targeting a civilian aircraft of this nature constitutes a blatant violation of international aviation regulations and humanitarian principles.
Referencing international legal frameworks such as the Chicago Convention (1944) and the Montreal Convention (1971), which categorize threats to civilian aircraft as serious criminal acts, the body also cited Article 52 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. This article deems attacks on civilian objects, including aircraft engaged in humanitarian aid activities, as potential war crimes.
Urging swift investigations by international bodies, the Civil Aviation Organisation called for the prosecution of those accountable and the implementation of measures to avert similar threats to civil aviation.
Mahan Air, a prominent Iranian private airline, has faced U.S. sanctions for an extended period due to allegations of ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and involvement in transporting personnel and equipment related to regional conflicts, which Tehran consistently refutes.
The reported airstrike heightens the risks for civilian aircraft operating in conflict zones, with previous incidents during the ongoing war causing damage to aviation infrastructure throughout Iran.