Aviation News –
An Iranian Bell AH-1J military helicopter (locally known as the Panha 2091 Toufan) crashed into a crowded fruit market in the central Isfahan province, resulting in the deaths of four people. The incident occurred in the town of Dorcheh, where the attack helicopter struck a commercial area, sparking an immediate emergency response to contain the resulting fire.
The victims of the disaster include both the pilot and co-pilot, as well as two merchants who were working in the market at the time of impact. Local state media and Iranian television confirmed the casualties after emergency services rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze. Footage broadcast by local outlets depicted a grim scene of smoldering debris and thick smoke rising from among the market stalls, highlighting the severity of the structural damage and the loss of life.
The Panha 2091 Toufan is an Iranian-upgraded version of the American-made Bell AH-1J SeaCobra, an attack helicopter utilized for close air support. The technical cause of the crash remains under investigation, but such incidents often highlight the operational risks associated with aging military hardware and low-altitude urban maneuvers. The impact disrupted local commerce and required a massive deployment of first responders to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent residential and commercial zones.