Iranian plane catches fire, 46 injured

Tehran, Jan 24 At least 46 passengers on board a domestic aircraft were injured Sunday as the plane caught fire while landing at Mashhad airport.

Fire broke out in the tail of the Taban Airlines plane while it was landing at the airport at 7.20 a.m. (0920 IST). The aircraft took off from the southeastern Iranian city of Abadan, Press TV reported.

Initial reports indicated that at least 46 of the 157 passengers aboard the Russian-made Topolov have been injured.

Although no deaths have been reported, the number of the wounded is expected to rise as the operation of transferring passengers continues, according to medical staff.

An explosion separated almost a third of the plane's fuselage on landing, ripping away the rear section. One of the wings and the landing gear also came apart in the fire, as the flames spread through the fuselage.

Earlier, the plane was diverted to Isfahan airport, 872 km southeast of Mashhad, due to foggy weather. After a short stop, the airliner again took off for Mashhad, but the incident occurred as it was reaching its scheduled destination.