Iranian Boeing 747 engine part broke off mid-air

Tasnim News Agency An engine part from a Iranian Boeing 747 jumbo jet airliner fell off mid flight, forcing the pilots to return to th...

Tasnim News Agency

An engine part from a Iranian Boeing 747 jumbo jet airliner fell off mid flight, forcing the pilots to return to the airport.

The airliner operated by Mahan Air landed back at the Mehrabad Airport safely, after taking off from the Bandar Abbas airport on Thursday, carrying 426 passengers.

The Turbine Exhaust Sleeve of the starboard inner General Electric CF6 turbofan engine broke off during the flight from the Turbine Rear Frame.

The engine piece was later found near Eslamshahr south of Tehran.

Tasnim News Agency

The aircraft which is reported to be 25 years old, is one of the newest in the Airline's fleet.

Western sanctions has forced Iranian Airlines to operate aging and increasingly unsafe aircraft fleet. US imposed sanction in 1995, which bans aviation companies from selling aircraft and repair parts to Iranian airlines.

Following the lifting of sanctions in July 2015, Iran is looking to acquire around 400 to 500 commercial jets to upgrade its civil aviation sector.