Passengers on board a Sepehran Airlines Boeing 737 were left shaken after part of the cabin ceiling came loose mid-flight and collapsed, forcing the aircraft to turn back and make an emergency landing in Iran.
What Went Wrong Mid-Flight
The flight was travelling from Mashhad to Kermanshah on Tuesday when the trouble began shortly after take-off. Reports indicate a tyre came off one of the aircraft’s wheels, triggering an engine malfunction and severe vibrations that shook the cabin.
Panic Inside The Cabin
As the aircraft shook, sections of the cabin ceiling lining and overhead compartments came loose, with passengers’ belongings falling from the bins, some hitting people seated below. Video footage shared on social media showed passengers gripping their seats, screaming and, in some cases, praying as the aircraft continued to shudder.
A Safe Return To Mashhad
The pilots made the call to turn the plane around, heading back to Mashhad Hashemi Nejad International Airport rather than continuing to Kermanshah. The aircraft landed safely, and passengers and crew were evacuated without incident.
Despite the frightening scenes inside the cabin, preliminary reports confirmed no injuries were recorded among those on board. The airport’s runway was briefly closed following the landing so ground teams could carry out an assessment before normal operations resumed a few hours later.
Second Such Incident, Investigation Ahead
According to reports, this is understood to be the second recent incident involving a Sepehran Airlines aircraft at Mashhad airport, raising questions about maintenance protocols at the carrier, though no official statement has been issued confirming further details on the earlier event.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization is expected to open a formal investigation into what caused the tyre issue and the resulting cabin damage. Sepehran Airlines has not yet issued a public statement addressing the incident, and attempts by aviation outlets to reach the airline for comment have so far been unsuccessful.
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For travellers, incidents like this are a reminder of why cabin crew safety briefings on securing loose items and following crew instructions during turbulence or technical issues remain important, even on short regional routes. Passengers due to fly the same route in the coming days are advised to check directly with the airline for updates on schedules while the investigation is ongoing. Sepehran Airlines operates one of the largest Boeing 737 fleets in Iran, running domestic routes out of its Mashhad hub, and the incident has drawn renewed attention to ageing fleet maintenance standards among some regional carriers.
Cover Image Courtesy: Fahad Naim/X