Iran stops selling tickets for Tu-154 flights

The Iranian Civilian Air Transport Organization has forbidden
realization of tickets for Russia's Tu-154 planes, Fars reports.

Violating the order will bear criminal responsibility. Iranian air
companies will stop exploiting Tu-154 on February 19.

The decision was made after an air crash of a Tu-154 plane in Iran.
119 people died in a plane crash on February 12, 2002.

Another crash happened on July 15, 2009, when a Tu-154 plane,
belonging to Caspian Airlines, was making an emergency landing, flying
from Tehran to Yerevan. There were 168 people on board, including 153
passengers. The plane crashed in 16 minutes after taking off.

A Tu-154 plane crashed at Mashhad airport, when flying from Abadan to
Mashhad, on January 24, 2010. The plane made a hard landing, started
burning and broke apart. Over 150 people were on board, 42 of them
were injured.

The Iranian air organization sent letters to Iran Air Tour, Kish Air,
Taban and Caspian. They will stop exploiting the Tu-154 on February 19
and switch to other planes.