Northwest Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Iran

June 20, 2005
The Northwest Airlines DC-10 was en route from Bombay, India, to Amsterdam, Netherlands. U.S. carriers do not serve Iran because of American economic sanctions.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- A U.S.-based commercial airliner made an emergency landing in Tehran on Sunday after reporting a technical problem in its cargo section, airport officials said.

The Northwest Airlines DC-10 was en route from Bombay, India, to Amsterdam, Netherlands, with 255 passengers and crew, said Reza Jafarzadeh, the spokesman for the civil aviation authority. No injuries were reported.

It later flew out of the country, its departure filmed and broadcast on state television. No further details were immediately available.

U.S. carriers do not serve Iran because of American economic sanctions. Washington broke ties with Iran shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution when militants seized the U.S. Embassy. Fifty-two hostages were held for 444 days.

Technicians worked on the plane, which was expected to continue the trip, Jafarzadeh said.