Caspian Airlines

Caspian Airlines has a concerning safety record, marked by several notable incidents. The most significant was on July 15, 2009, when Caspian Airlines Flight 7908, a Tupolev Tu-154M, crashed near Qazvin, Iran, killing all 168 passengers and crew due to an uncontained engine failure that led to a loss of control. More recently, on January 27, 2020, Flight 6936, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, experienced a runway excursion at Bandar Mahshahr Airport, skidding onto a road and injuring 2 of 144 occupants. On April 12, 2021, Flight 6984, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, rose above its assigned altitude due to an autopilot malfunction, triggering a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) alert for another aircraft. Both planes landed safely. Another incident occurred on January 5, 2022, when Flight 6904, a Boeing 737-400, veered off the runway during landing at Isfahan International Airport after its left main landing gear collapsed, injuring five of the 116 people on board.

Regarding regulatory certifications, Caspian Airlines has faced significant international scrutiny. The airline was blacklisted by the European Commission in 2015, prohibiting it from flying within European airspace, a ban that remained in effect after a 2018 revision. As of December 2016, the US Department of Treasury prohibited Caspian Airlines from engaging in transactions with foreign entities, citing its support for elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by transporting personnel and illicit material. In 2018, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) further designated nine of Caspian Airlines' aircraft, effectively preventing them from operating or receiving services in Western countries.

The airline operates an aging fleet, with an average aircraft age exceeding 30 years or around 26 years. Concerns regarding maintenance have been raised, with reports indicating that the airline relies on front companies globally to illegally procure spare parts for its older fleet, circumventing Western sanctions. The investigation into the 2009 crash highlighted a fatigue-induced engine failure and noted the crew's delayed response to a fire. Preliminary investigations for the 2020 runway excursion suggested a technical defect in the aircraft.

Based on available data, Caspian Airlines has a poor overall safety assessment, characterized by a fatal accident and multiple operational incidents in recent years, alongside being on the EU's safety blacklist and facing US sanctions related to its operations and alleged support for sanctioned entities. No safety awards or recognitions were found.