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Iran claims Delhi-bound Mahan Air flight hit in US strike at Mashhad airport
The aircraft was scheduled to fly to New Delhi as part of a humanitarian aid operation
- PUBLISHED: Tue 31 Mar 2026, 4:44 PM
- By:
- ANI
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An aircraft belonging to Mahan Air was reportedly struck during a United States airstrike at Mashhad Airport in Iran, disrupting a planned humanitarian mission to India, according to Iranian sources.
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The aircraft, stationed at Mashhad International Airport, was scheduled to fly to New Delhi as part of a humanitarian aid operation. "Mahan Air aircraft was hit by the US in an airstrike at Mashhad Airport. The plane was reportedly scheduled to fly to Delhi for humanitarian aid," Iran sources said.
According to reports, the aircraft was expected to arrive in New Delhi in the coming days to facilitate the transport of humanitarian supplies, including medicines. The disruption has raised fresh concerns over the safety of civilian and aid-linked aviation operations in the region amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
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The incident comes at a time when Iran has been coordinating humanitarian shipments with India. Earlier this month, India dispatched aid consignments to Iran, underlining what New Delhi described as long-standing civilisational and humanitarian ties between the two countries.
There has been no immediate official confirmation from the United States regarding the reported strike.
Mahan Air, one of Iran's largest private carriers, has frequently been at the centre of international scrutiny. The airline has been under US sanctions for years, with Washington alleging links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and accusing it of transporting personnel and equipment linked to regional conflicts.
Past incidents involving the airline have also drawn global attention. In previous years, tensions between US forces and Iranian aviation have led to aerial encounters, further highlighting the risks faced by civilian aircraft operating in conflict-prone airspaces.
