[kellyhound]

2009 Iranian Air Force mid-air collision on September 22, 2009 involved an Ilyushin IL-76MD and a Northrop F-5E Tiger II aircraft.

The accident resulted in the destruction of Iran's only functional aircraft equipped with an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).

A military parade was held in Tehran on September 22, 2009 to mark the anniversary of the start of the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq War, and was a send-off for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who was to give a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 23.

A fly-past by the Iranian Air Force was part of the parade. An AWACS-equipped Ilyushin-76MD was to be escorted by several Northrop F-5E Tiger II aircraft.

The Il-76MD and one of the escorts collided in mid-air, with the Ilyushin subsequently crashing in flames at Varamin—on the site of the tomb of former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeni—killing all seven crew members on board.

According to Western observers, no mayday call was made by either aircraft indicating a sudden event.

The accident was initially reported on the Islamic Republic News Agency website, but was withdrawn 5 hours later.

A video of burning wreckage from the military aircraft surrounded by fire trucks was also shown on state TV. However, president Ahmadinejad made no mention of it during his speech at the parade.

The escort aircraft was a US-made Northrop F-5E Tiger II.
The other aircraft involved was an Ilyushin Il-76MD, a Soviet-built transport aircraft, fitted with AWACS system for the Iraqi Air Force.

It was evacuated to Iran in 1991 during the First Gulf War, given serial number 5-8209 and renamed from "Baghdad" to "Simorgh" (a flying creature of Iranian fable which performs wonders in mid-flight).

Russian technicians reportedly upgraded the aircraft and installed a newer Iranian-made radar, which could trace flying objects within 1,000 km from Iranian borders.

The aircraft came into service in April 2008 and was the only AWACS-equipped Iranian aircraft.

[Faline]

[vnathan]

Can't see anything.

[CarlR]

"Russian technicians reportedly upgraded the aircraft and installed a newer Iranian-made radar, which could trace flying objects within 1,000 km from Iranian borders."

sure as hell didnt trace that plane comin at them...

[Xfactor]

Looks like an F-4 phantom

[gimlet]

Originally Posted by vnathan ↗

Can't see anything.

Look behind the jet, there is a plane disintegrating then crashes to the ground with a fireball.

Don't steal the Great Satan's aircraft, they will crash during your celebration parades

[rabenson]

This happened on September 22, 2009 near Tehran. The plane going down is a IL-76MD Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, a military plane with seven people on board. All of them were killed.
The accident was captured by the crew of a military Lockheed C-130 Hercules, who at the time was recording the flight of a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.

[BrownRock]

"The aircraft came into service in April 2008 and was the only AWACS-equipped Iranian aircraft".

Sucks for them.

[Boycott]

Happened in September 22, 2009 after an air show.

All seven crew members died.