India-bound flight struck in US attack at Mashhad airport, Iran terms it 'war crime'

An aircraft operated by Mahan Air was reportedly struck during a United States airstrike at Mashhad International Airport, according to Iranian sources cited by ANI. The incident is said to have disrupted a planned humanitarian mission bound for New Delhi.

The aircraft had been stationed at Mashhad and was scheduled to travel to India in the coming days, carrying humanitarian supplies, including medicines. Iranian sources claimed that the strike directly affected the aircraft, preventing the mission from proceeding as planned.

The reported development has heightened concerns over the safety of civilian and humanitarian aviation operations in conflict-prone regions, particularly amid escalating tensions involving United States and Iran.


The incident comes at a time when Tehran and New Delhi have been engaged in humanitarian coordination. Earlier this month, India dispatched aid consignments to Iran, reaffirming what it described as longstanding civilisational ties and humanitarian cooperation between the two nations.

There has been no immediate official confirmation from Washington regarding the alleged strike. However, the report is likely to further strain already fragile relations between the United States and Iran, which have long been marked by disputes over Tehran’s regional influence and military activities.

Mahan Air Under Scrutiny

Mahan Air, one of Iran’s largest private carriers, has been under US sanctions for several years. Washington has accused the airline of maintaining links with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and of transporting personnel and equipment associated with regional conflicts, allegations that Tehran has consistently denied.

Iran Calls Incident a ‘War Crime’

Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation condemned the reported attack, describing it as a “war crime” and a violation of international law. In a statement shared by Iran’s mission in India on social media, the organisation asserted that targeting a civilian aircraft engaged in transporting medicines and medical equipment contravenes established international aviation and humanitarian norms.

The statement referenced key legal frameworks, including the Chicago Convention of 1944 and the Montreal Convention of 1971, both of which classify acts endangering civilian aircraft as international offences. It also cited Article 52 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits attacks on civilian objects, including aircraft involved in humanitarian missions.


Calling for urgent international intervention, the Civil Aviation Organisation urged global bodies to investigate the incident, hold those responsible accountable, and prevent similar threats to civil aviation in the future.

As details remain unclear and independently unverified, the situation continues to evolve, with potential implications for regional stability and humanitarian logistics.

Inputs from ANI