66 people killed as Iranian plane crashes near Semirom

Semirom is located about 80 km north from Yasuj, the capital of the south-western Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province.

As many as 66 people were killed on Sunday in a plane crash in southern Iran, according to media reports. The aircraft went off radar midflight from Tehran to Yasuj.

Semirom lies in the mountainous southwestern region of Iran, around 480 kilometres south of the capital. 

"An ATR aircraft of Aseman Airlines with 60 passengers and about six crew disappeared from radar this morning," Aladin Borujerdi, head of parliaments national security and foreign policy commission said.

"Observation by people (in the area) indicates a crash," he said, adding that he was still awaiting confirmation. 

Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman for the national emergency services said that a helicopter had been sent to the area. "Given the fact that the area is mountainous, it is not possible to send ambulances," he said.