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81tul2ws.jpgThere are unverified, but strong, reports that an Iranian pilot has lost his life in a plane crash deliberately kept secret from the public.

On September 23rd, as every year, Iranian cities were the scene of military shows, to acknowledge the ignition of the eight-year war with Iraq (see: Big Military Show in Iran and pictures from the show in Tehran and its vicinity). Reportedly, during the show, two Tazarv jets flew over Khomeini’s shrine [Persian]. Tazarv, meaning Eagle in Persian, is an experimental airplane developed by the Islamic Republic (Source: Global Security). According to a Persian source, three planes were supposed to carry out the flight. However, the day before the show, one of them experiences a technical problem and crashes. Following a fault in the ejection process, one of the pilots of the plane or both of them are killed in the accident [Persian].

There is no official report about the accident, or that it has not happened, but the fact that a fortieth-day condolence is published in an Iranian newspaper, around forty days after the show, has made many people suspicious [Persian]. The referred announcement is about a “martyred pilot”, indicating that he has indeed been killed during a military operation. The name of the deceased pilot is Mojtaba Mir Asgari (سید مجتبی میر عسگری).

See more pictures of Tazarv in the photoblog.

Update: Baoba believes that Tazarv means Pheasant and not Eagle.