TEHRAN, Iran — A fighter jet belonging to the Iranian military went down in the southern region of the country on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of both pilots, according to reports from state media.

The pilots have been identified as Colonel Hamid Reza Ranjbar and Colonel Manouchehr Pirzadeh. They were conducting a test flight after the aircraft had undergone maintenance. The incident occurred near Firouzabad, located approximately 770 kilometers (480 miles) south of Tehran, the capital city.

Details about the specific model of the aircraft involved in the crash were not provided, nor was an explanation given for the cause of the accident. Footage released by the semi-official Fars news agency, which has ties to the military, depicted large clouds of white smoke rising from the wreckage.

The Iranian Air Force operates a mix of military aircraft, including those originally purchased from the U.S. before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, such as the Tomcat F-14. In addition, the force has Russian-manufactured MiG and Sukhoi planes. The imposition of Western sanctions over several decades has severely restricted access to spare parts, complicating the maintenance of this aging fleet.

Iran has experienced a number of similar incidents involving its aircraft. In 2022, another fighter jet crashed in the central desert, also resulting in the loss of both pilots’ lives. Earlier that same year, a fighter jet fell onto a soccer field in Tabriz, killing both pilots and a bystander.