65 People Likely Killed in Plane Crash in Southern Iran

All 65 people on board a commercial flight in Iran were likely killed when the plane crashed into a mountain in the Southern region of the country on Sunday, Iranian state media reported.

Aseman Airlines flights flight EP3704 went down in a foggy, mountainous region 485 miles from the country's capital, Tehran, according to the Associated Press. The plane was an ATR-72 twin-engine turboprop used for regional flights.

“After searching the area, we learned that unfortunately ... our dear passengers had lost their lives,” Mohammad Taghi Tabatabai, Aseman Airlines spokesman, told state TV. “This plane had 60 passengers, 59 adults and one child, as well as a pilot, a co-pilot, two flight attendants and two air marshals on board.”

While it was initially reported that 66 people died, the state-run news agency IRNA later said one passenger had missed the flight.

Foggy conditions have not made it possible for rescue helicopters to reach the scene of the crash, according to state TV, though the Iranian Red Crescent has deployed. The plane crashed into Mount Dena, a 14,435-foot-tall mountain in the Zagros mountains.

Iran's commercial airplane fleet has suffered a decline over the past few decades because of international sanctions, though the country was able make deals with Boeing and Airbus to buy newer passenger planes in 2015 after a landmark nuclear agreement was reached with world powers.