Mahan Air Boeing 747 sustains air emergency, all passengers safe

Above: Damaged No. 3 engine of Mahan Air Boeing 747, upon safe return to Mehrabad International Airport

According to Sky News:

An Iranian plane has made an emergency landing after part of its engine fell apart two minutes after take-off.

The Boeing 747, which had 426 passengers on board, had just departed from Tehran's Mehrabad airport when "a piece of engine number three came off and hit the body of the plane".

Iranian journalists have claimed the engine part fell into an urban area, but no one on the ground is thought to have been injured.

Pilots of the Mahan Air plane decided to immediately return to the airport, and landed it safely just after 7.15am local time on Thursday morning.

According to the private airline, the aircraft had undergone all necessary safety checks and inspections prior to departure.

Affected passengers were being taken to their destination, the southern city of Bandar Abbas, on a different plane.

COMMENTARY: Aircraft was Mahan Air Boeing 747-383, reg. EP-MNE (cn 23480/641). Aircraft air emergency occurred during initial climb, returned to THR after lost part to No.3 engine. The rear, low pressure turbine, section of General Electric CF6-50E2 engine broke away and fell to the ground in the Eslamshahr country area of Tehran Province.

Fortunately there were no casualties aboard the aircraft or on the ground.

It's possible this air emergency was the result of sanctions, with passenger carrier not provided relevant service bulletin and access to replacement parts.

In May 2010, four uncontained failures of CF6-45/50 engines in the preceding two years prompted the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board to issue an "urgent" recommendation to increase inspections of the engines on U.S. aircraft. None of the four incidents of rotor disk imbalance and subsequent failure resulted in an accident, but parts of the engine did penetrate the engine housing in each case. [source: Wikipedia]

Detail of affected General Electric CF6-50E2 engine

At a field in the Eslamshahr country area of Tehran Province, a  NAJA first sergeant looks over fallen section of General Electric CF6-50E2 engine.

Iranian firemen beside collected engine parts debris from stricken Mahan Air Boeing 747-383 aircraft

Photos: Sky News

Vice President Ebtekar travels to Kerman on Mahan Air A306

Iranian Vice President and Minister of Environment Masoumeh Ebtekar arrives at Kerman Airport (KER), having flown Mahan Air Airbus A300B4-603, reg. EP-MNG (cn 401). Flight details of what appears to be a regularly scheduled commercial flight provided below (source Flightradar24):

Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar received at KER by Ali-Reza Razm-Hosseini (foreground, left), the governor general of Kerman province.

Ebetkar's trip focused on Jazmurian wetland restoration, water management and labor issues, and a meeting with Environmental Watch officials.

Ebtekar and Razm-Hosseini at a "green belt" construction site, "aimed at combating speculation, prevent the entry of dust and increase the per capita green area of ​​Kerman." The program was initiated during the last year (Persian calendar). Employing drip irrigation method, this belt includes trees such as barberry and oleander, olive, cypress, pine, and bitter jujube. [source: Mehr News Agency]

Pine tree planting directed by Vice President Ebtekar. To her right is Kerman Mayor Abolghasem Seyfollahi.

Protectors of Iran's biodiversity, Iranian Department of Environment (DoE) Game Guards stand at attention for Vice President and Minister of Environment Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Vice President Ebtekar lays flowers at what appear to be graves of fallen DoE Game Guards, killed on duty defending Iran's biodiversity. (For additional reading on DoE Game Guards, click HERE)

 

Ebtekar is known to Americans as "Tehran Mary," serving as spokesperson for the students in the Iran hostage crisis of 1979, where Iranian students occupied the US Embassy and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Rafsanjani charters Mahan Air Airbus A306 to Mashhad

Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani descending canopied passenger boarding stairs, upon his arrival at Mashhad - Shahid Hashemi Nejad Airport (MHD / OIMM).  Flight details listed below, sourced from Flightradar24.com:

Rafsanjani's chartered aircraft is Mahan Air Airbus A300B4-603, reg. EP-MNI (cn 408). The aircraft is 28.5 years old.

The current Chairman of Expediency Discernment Council is seen being received by officials including an Artesh brigadier general 2C.

Rafsanjani accompanied by Razavi Khorasan Province Governor Ali Reza Rashidiyan (to his right)

On 03AUG15 Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani officially announced his intention to run for re-election to the Assembly of Experts in February 2016, prompting backlash from the more conservative establishment. [see HERE]

A political moderate, the former President of Iran supports the Rouhani administration and its signing of the JCPOA.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Mahan Air EP-MMR operating flights to Milan and Shanghai

Mahan Air EP-MMR on 25JUL15 at Milan–Malpensa Airport
[photo: Gustavo Petullo]

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMR (cn 416) has recently been operating flights to Milan–Malpensa Airport (MXP) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).

EP-MMR is one of nine Airbus aircraft recently obtained by Mahan Air with Iraqi assistance, circumventing U.S. sanctions in effect against the airline for assisting IRGC-QF in support of Lebanese Hezbollah and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as MODAFL and IAIO. With the signing of JCPOA, U.S. sanctions against these recently obtained Mahan Air aircraft appear  effectively suspended.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-311, reg. EP-MMB (cn 056) on 17JUN15 at at Milan–Malpensa Airport (see below)

[photo: Simone Previdi]

According to AnnaAero:

Mahan Air... started twice-weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) flights from its Tehran Imam Khomeini (IKA) hub to Milan Malpensa (MXP) on 17 June – its 54th global destination. Although the inaugural service was operated by one of the carrier’s A340s, the service is intended to be flown by its A310 fleet. Iran Air will provide the only direct competition on the 3,711-kilometre airport pair, also flying twice-weekly on the route. The sector becomes Mahan Air’s seventh into Europe, and closely follows the start of services to Munich earlier this summer.

Attractive Mahan Air flight crew members at Milan–Malpensa Airport

[photo: AnnaAero]

Mahan Air A346 aircraft now operating flights to Far East, in defiance of U.S. sanctions

Mahan Air A346 aircraft obtained 08MAY15 with Iraqi assistance are now operating international routes to Malaysia and Thailand, in defiance of U.S. sanctions related to the airline's past IRGC-related logistical activities in support of Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanese Hezbollah, MODAFL and ICAO.

In addition to the above mentioned Far East routes, Iran has been and is currently flying regular routes with these U.S.-sanctioned aircraft to destinations in Greece, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

U.S. Treasury department on 21MAY15 stated  Mahan Air had a "blockable interest" in the planes, meaning they could be subject to an asset freeze, raising the possibility that Washington may attempt to have them seized at airports outside Iran.

Iran's aviation authority stated on 08JUN15 the country would take legal action if Washington tries to stop newly acquired Iranian passenger planes flying international routes.

Recapping regular route flight numbers and destinations for U.S.-sanctioned Mahan Air A346 EP-MMR (cn 416) and EP-MMH (cn 391), are as follows:

Flight W5118: IKA to ESB
Flight W558:  IKA to ATH
Flights W561, W563: IKA to DXB
Flight W582: IKA to KUL
Flight W551: IKA to BKK

Additionally, Mahan Air A346 EP-MMI (cn 449) on 01JUL15 made its first service flight to DXB, making three Mahan Air A346 aircraft now operating international flights in defiance of U.S. sanctions.

File photo of Mahan Air A346 EP-MMI, now joining EP-MMH and EP-MMR in operating international flights in defiance of U.S. sanctions.  [photo: Majid Tavakoli]

Recent flight data for Mahan Air A346, registration EP-MMH  [source: Flightradar24]:

Recent flight data for Mahan Air A346, registration EP-MMR  [source: Flightradar24]:

Imagery of U.S.-sanctioned Mahan Air A346, reg. EP-MMG

New amateur imagery posted this week at MyAviation.ir of U.S.-sanctioned Mahan Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMG (cn 383) at Tehran - Mehrabad International Airport (THR). First open-source photo available of aircraft in Mahan Air livery:

Undated photograph by Majid Khodaei depicts aircraft situated near Pars Aviation Service Company MRO facility at THR. In the background are seen IRGC-related Ilyushin Il-76TD "Candid" strategic airlifters and Antonov An-74TK-200 "Coaler" transport aircraft. Ilyushin at far left with green vertical stabilizer retains Yas Air paint scheme; airline sanctioned for similar reasons as EP-MMG.

EP-MMG obtained with Iraqi assistance; ferried 08May15 from Baghdad International Airport (BGW) to Tehran - Mehrabad International Airport (THR).

U.S. Treasury department on 21MAY15 stated  Mahan Air had a "blockable interest" in this plane, meaning it could be subject to an asset freeze, raising the possibility that Washington may attempt to have it seized at airports outside Iran. Iran's aviation authority stated on 08JUN15 the country would take legal action if Washington tries to stop newly acquired Iranian passenger planes flying international routes.

Should this follow the example of EP-MMH and EP-MMR, aircraft expected to commence flying international routes from Tehran - Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA).

U.S.-sanctioned Mahan Air jetliners operate regular flights to Europe

Amateur imagery has been posted from Athens International Airport (see below), depicting Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft registrations EP-MMH and EP-MMR operating regularly scheduled Flight W558 (IKA to ATH), and Flight W559 (ATH to IKA).

U.S. Treasury department on 21MAY15 stated  Mahan Air had a "blockable interest" in the planes, meaning they could be subject to an asset freeze, raising the possibility that Washington may attempt to have them seized at airports outside Iran.

Iran is currently flying regular routes with these sanctioned aircraft, to destinations Dubai, Ankara and Athens. Iran's aviation authority stated on 08JUN15 the country would take legal action if Washington tries to stop newly acquired Iranian passenger planes flying international routes.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMH (cn 391), Flight W559 ATH to IKA

Photographed 21JUN15 by Alex Filippopoulos

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMH at Athens International Airport

Photographed 21JUN15 by Alex Filippopoulos

 

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMH at Athens International Airport

Photographed 21JUN15 by Alex Filippopoulos

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMR (cn 416), Flight W558 IKA to ATH

Photographed 23JUN15 by Alex Filippopoulos

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMR at Athens International Airport

Photographed 23JUN15 by Alex Filippopoulos

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMR at Athens International Airport

Photographed 23JUN15 by Alex Filippopoulos

Flights W558 and W559 info for Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 registration EP-MMH (click to enlarge):
[source: Flightradar24]

Flights W558 and W559 info for Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 registration EP-MMR (click to enlarge):
[source: Flightradar24]

Two Mahan Air A346 planes now flying international routes, defying U.S. sanctions

Two Mahan Air aircraft obtained 08MAY15 with Iraqi assistance are now flying international routes, in defiance of U.S. sanctions related to the airline's past IRGC-related logistical activities in support of Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanese Hezbollah, MODAFL and ICAO. The two aircraft are:

- Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMH (cn 391)

- Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMR (cn 416)

International flights for these U.S.-sanctioned aircraft now include the following destinations:

- Athens International Airport (ATH / LGAV), since 19JUN15

- Ankara - Esenboğa International Airport (ESB / LTAC), since 07JUN15

- Dubai International Airport (DXB / OMDB), since 03JUN15

Above: Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMH (cn 391) at Athens International Airport

Mahan Air Flight W558 photographed 19JUN15 by Antoni Sanagno

Table of recent flights for Mahan Air EP-MMH (cn 391)  [source: Flightradar24]

Table of recent flights for Mahan Air EP-MMR (cn 416)  [source: Flightradar24]

Also of interest, Mahan Air on 17JUN15 inaugurated flights to Milan – Malpensa Airport (MXP / LIMC). Inaugural flight undertaken by Airbus A343 aircraft reg. EP-MMB, obtained by Mahan Air on 23DEC12.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-311, reg. EP-MMB (cn 7335A2) undergoing water salute ceremony at Malpensa Airport

Mahan Air Flight W5110 photographed 17JUN15 by MXphotos

Mahan Air Airbus A346, registration EP-MMH

Additional photos of Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMH (cn 391), recently acquired from Iraqi source on 08MAY15.

Iranian media reports this plane may be among those potentially slated to fly international routes in defiance of U.S. sanctions, put in place for that airline's IRGC-QF logistical assistance rendered to Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanese Hezbollah, as well as IAIO and MODAFL.

EP-MMH painted in Mahan Air livery on its first post-delivery flight THR-MHD on 01JUN15

(photo: Ata Tavanaei)

Flight deck detain of EP-MMH, as it appeared the week of delivery at THR

(Photo: Nariman Minusepehr)

Passenger compartment of EP-MMH, as it appeared the week of delivery at THR

(Photo: Nariman Minusepehr)

Potential U.S. showdown with recently acquired Mahan Air aircraft

Above: freshly painted in Mahan Air livery, A340-642 reg. EP-MMR (cn 416)

A potential U.S. showdown with Mahan Air over its recent Iraqi-provided Airbus aircraft may be taking shape. According to a Reuters newswire dated 01JUN15:

An Iranian airline that acquired nine passenger jets in defiance of U.S. sanctions will begin using them on international routes this week, the Fars news agency reported on Monday.

Mahan Air, which is blacklisted by Washington, acquired eight second-hand Airbus A340s and one Airbus A321 in early May. The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on two firms based in Iraq and the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of helping the purchase.

The A340s will start flying from Tehran to Dubai and Istanbul within two days, and will later be used for long-haul journeys, Fars reported.

[…]

The U.S. Treasury department last month said Mahan Air had a "blockable interest" in the planes, meaning they could be subject to an asset freeze, raising the possibility that U.S. officials may attempt to have them seized at airports outside Iran.

The United States, which has imposed the most stringent sanctions on Iran, a country that is also under European and some U.N. measures over its nuclear activities, bans the sale of aircraft and parts to the Islamic Republic.

COMMENTARY: U.S.-directed sanctioning efforts against Mahan Air are a result of the airline's logistical activities connected to IRGC-QF support of Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanese Hezbollah, as well as MODAFL and IAIO.

Potential Airbus aircraft ferried to Iran on 08MAY15 and observed  freshly painted in Mahan Air livery through open-source amateur photography include the following known new registrations and corresponding construction numbers of A346 aircraft:

391 EP-MMH

416 EP-MMR

449 EP-MMI

---   EP-MMQ

Known additional construction numbers and corresponding new registrations of A346 and A343 aircraft include:

371 -------

376 -------

383 EP-MMG

615 -------

164 EP-MMD

Were Mahan Air to undertake international flights with these newly acquired Iraqi-provided Airbus aircraft and were the United States to seize the aircraft, ramifications would likely impact current negotiations over the Iranian nuclear power program. The Iranian side frames any new sanctioning efforts by the United States as "contrary to the spirit" of the nuclear negotiation process. That the Iranian negotiators would be undermined by an aircraft impoundment may also come into play, were the IRGC to be calculating to such an end, for it's understood IRGC views potential disclosures over its ballistic missile program and military industrial complex as detrimental to Iranian national defense. Additionally, a seizure might provide this political interest in Iran with the added boost of popular opinion, in depicting the Iranian people deprived of safer air travel by a hostile power.

Newly acquired A346 aircraft in Mahan Air livery

Airbus A340-642 aircraft acquired by Mahan Air on 08MAY15 now seen painted with Mahan Air livery:

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 391 now registered EP-MMH. Aircraft photographed in front of Fars Co. MRO facility at THR on 22MAY15 by Majid Khodaei.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 416 now registered EP-MMR. Aircraft photographed at IKA on or about 17MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 449 now registered EP-MMI. Aircraft photographed by Majid Tavakoli on or about 19MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft now registered EP-MMQ. Aircraft photographed by Majid B. Bajelan on or about 19MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 391 now registered EP-MMH. Interior photograph by Nariman Minusepehr on or about 19MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 383 now registered EP-MMG. Interior photograph taken on or about 23MAY15.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642 aircraft, cn 383 now registered EP-MMG. Interior photograph taken on or about 23MAY15.

Mahan Air’s recent aircraft acquisitions and the Iraq-Iran connection

File photo: Airbus A340-642 seen registered 9H-TEP (cn 391) on 07FEB15 at MLA

Aircraft  acquired 08FEB15 by Al-Naser Airlines, ferried BSR-THR on 08MAY15 for Mahan Air

[photo: Buzu]

According to the Financial Times:

Iran has defied international sanctions and acquired nine large commercial aircraft worth more than $300m.

Mahan Air, which is blacklisted by the US and Europe because of alleged links to Iran’s revolutionary guard — denied by the airline — is suspected of spending more than a year brokering a complex series of arrangements with apparently unwitting companies across Europe using the small Iraqi Al-Naser Airlines as a front, according to western security officials.

[…]

Hossein Marashi, a member of [Mahan’s parent group Kerman Molal-Movahedin Non-Profit Institute], confirmed the purchase of the nine jets but said it “is really baseless to say Mahan buys modern planes to carry weapons as if there is shortage of planes in Iran for such purposes”.

[…]

“The [first] company had sent those planes back to Airbus and Airbus overhauled them and sold them to [other] non-Iranian companies which then sold them to Mahan after they did not find any interest in the Iraqi market,” said Mr Marashi.

[…]

The nine aircraft Mahan has acquired — eight Airbus A340s and one Airbus A320 — were manufactured between 2001 and 2009 but had flown less than six months. They have been stored in Iraq for several months and were all flown to Iran over the weekend.

Eyad Abdelkarim, head of marketing for Al-Naser insisted the allegations that his company had acted as a front for Mahan were untrue.

“I don’t have any information about this,” he said. “This is some kind of propaganda. There is no truth to the information you have received.”

[T]wo senior diplomats from separate western countries said they had no doubt Al-Naser had been operating as a “cut-out” in acquiring the aircraft on behalf of Mahan. One said they had traced payments from Mahan through a series of Gulf-based companies to buy the planes in Al-Naser’s name. Al-Naser previously owned just three aircraft, only one of which was operational. Until 2014, the company was owned by Iraq’s powerful al-Khawam family, and is still listed as part of their Riyadh Investment Group — the Khawam-controlled industrial conglomerate — on its official website. The Khawams sold Al-Naser in 2014.

Al-Naser’s new owner is Firas al-Mayyali. Mr Mayyali, who is involved in foreign exchange trading in Baghdad, declined on several occasions to speak to the Financial Times.

Soon after Mr Mayyali’s takeover of Al-Naser the company entered into negotiations with several European aviation businesses. Two Airbus A340 planes were acquired outright by the company. Others were wet-leased — seconded with crew, according to documents from European aviation authorities.

COMMENTARY: While there has been considerable dealings between Iran and Iraq in providing the latter arms to fight ISIL (contrary to UNSC Resolution 1737), this aircraft procurement arrangement effected between the two allies appears to circumvent U.S.-directed sanctioning efforts against Iran as a result of the airline's logistical activities connected to IRGC-QF support of Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanese Hezbollah, as well as MODAFL and AIO.

Below are tables related to Iran's Mahan Air aircraft procurement from Iraq's Al-Naser Airlines:

Roster of Al-Naser aircraft transferred to Mahan Air  [source: Airfleets.net]

Ferrying details of Al-Naser aircraft to Iran for delivery to Mahan Air  [source: Skyliner-aviation.de]

Additional file photos of specific aircraft now possessed by Mahan Air:

File photo: Airbus A340-313 seen registered G-VAIR (cn 164) on 21JAN14 at NRT

Aircraft  acquired 23DEC14 by Al-Naser Airlines, ferried BGW-MHD on 08MAY15 for Mahan Air

[photo: Gavin Bowler]

File photo: Airbus A340-642 seen registered G-VGOA (cn 371) on 18AUG12 at LHR

Aircraft  acquired 30JUL14 by Al-Naser Airlines (YI-ASL), ferried BGW-THR on 08MAY15 for Mahan Air

[Photo: Christopher Vondra]

File photo: Airbus A340-642 seen registered G-VSSH (cn 615) on 24OCT13 at LHR

Aircraft  acquired 24MAR15 by Al-Naser Airlines, ferried BSR-IKA on 08MAY15 for Mahan Air

[Photo: Stefan Hofmann]