The Israeli Air Power claims it has destroyed the Airbus A340-313 utilized by Iranian officers, together with Khamenei, which was at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport.
The Israeli Air Power says it has destroyed Iran’s “Air Power One” plane, an Airbus A340-313 which was utilized by senior Iranian officers and army leaders to journey each domestically and internationally. In its submit on X, the service particularly talked about that the plane was utilized by the late Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei, and was positioned at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport.
At this stage it isn’t potential to confirm these claims, as there is no such thing as a imagery out there – each from open sources and satellite tv for pc – to substantiate the destruction of the plane. Nevertheless, a minimum of the situation of the plane may be confirmed, as historic flight monitoring information by adsbexchange reveals the plane final flew on Feb. 22, 2026, certainly touchdown at Mehrabad.
חיל-האוויר השמיד את מטוסו של מנהיג משטר הטרור האיראני בשדה התעופה ״מהאראבד״ שבטהרן – המטוס שימש את עלי ח׳אמנהאי, מנהיג משטר הטרור האיראני, בכירים נוספים ממשטר הטרור וגורמים בצבא איראן, לקידום רכש צבאי ולניהול קשרים עם מדינות הציר באמצעות טיסות פנים וחוץ.
השמדת המטוס פוגעת… pic.twitter.com/lOtRRIHTff
— Israeli Air Power (@IAFsite) March 16, 2026
It’s unclear when this airstrike was performed, though the airport was hit a number of instances because the begin of Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, inlcuding within the night time between Mar. 15 and 16. Satellite tv for pc images within the earlier days confirmed a number of autos and plane scattered throughout the airport and its runways to complicate focusing on, however that didn’t cease strikes towards Iran’s airlift fleet.
Heavy Israeli airstrikes hit Tehran’s Mehrabad Worldwide Airport in a single day, destroying a minimum of one aircraft. pic.twitter.com/gXB7PBkvmz
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 16, 2026
In truth, Mehrabad hosted a number of transport plane along with the A340, together with BAe Avro RJ85 jets, the lone KC-747 refueling plane, and C-130 Hercules plane. The latter two sorts have been additionally struck, with the 747 (which was already mentioned to have been destroyed final yr) seen burning in movies on-line and the C-130s proven in movies by the U.S. Central Command.
Footage of the final Iranian KC-747 tanker burning after an Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Mehrabad airport final week. pic.twitter.com/DIn9Qnkcsz
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 12, 2026
The destruction of Iran’s “Air Power One” is each symbolic and strategic. In truth, the plane was not solely an emblem of the Iranian authorities each at house and overseas, nevertheless it additionally helped preserve relations with allies and proxies, in addition to probably shifting supplies.
The Iranian regime is dropping air functionality day-to-day. U.S. forces aren’t simply defending towards Iranian threats, we’re methodically dismantling them. pic.twitter.com/CrJj2nFtHB
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 12, 2026
EP-IGA and Iran’s A340 fleet
The most important plane in Iran’s airlift fleet was the Airbus A340-313 quadjet, sporting the registration EP-IGA. The plane was first delivered in 1999 to Air Canada and later flew with numerous different firms, earlier than being acquired by Iran in 2015.
The plane was reportedly acquired by Meraj Airways from the jet’s newest operator in Pakistan, earlier than being delivered to Mehrabad airport. The A340 was additionally reconfigured from industrial to VIP operations and obtained a brand new livery with the “Islamic Republic of Iran” markings and the Iranian flag on the tail.
Noticed within the U.S. at BWI final yr throughout the UNGA. pic.twitter.com/SXeGPU1Sf3
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 16, 2026
The plane has been usually noticed whereas transporting Iranian officers in diplomatic missions overseas, similar to United Nations Normal Meeting conferences in New York, visits to allies China and Russia, and negotiations in close by nations similar to Oman. The four-engine configuration and vary of the A340 allowed Iran to undertake long-range flights even with all of the restrictions the nation was topic to concerning diplomatic clearances for airspace entry and touchdown at international airports.
EP-IGA was not the one A340 in service in Iran, because the nation was capable of purchase a minimum of 10 extra plane by circumventing sanctions by entrance firms. All these plane have been acquired second-hand and initially formally bounded to different nations, earlier than showing in Iran.
The runway at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport has been blocked with parked buses and helicopters, apparently to make it unusable and stop additional strikes or plane operations.
Satellite tv for pc imagery from March 7 additionally reveals seen harm on the airport following heavy bombing throughout… pic.twitter.com/GyG8NB2LCo
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 12, 2026
Amongst these plane are 4 plane beforehand operated by Turkish Airways, which have been retired in 2019 and saved in South Africa after being acquired by an organization from Hong Kong. The plane have been then re-registered in Burkina Faso and have been formally headed for Uzbekistan, however as a substitute landed in Iran in 2022.
The identical yr, utilizing an identical system, Iran was capable of purchase two A340-212s retired by the French Air and Area Power. The plane have been flown to Indonesia after being acquired by native firms, and a yr later they confirmed up in Iran.
Equally, between 2023 and 2024, three extra plane have been acquired after being saved in Lithuania. The primary two plane took off formally headed to the Philippines and Sri Lanka, earlier than showing in Iran, adopted by the third plane a yr later.
