A Boeing 737 aircraft suffered a malfunction in flight, and the cabin ceiling partially collapsed

A Boeing 737 operated by Iran’s Sepehran Airlines was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday at Mashhad Nejad International Airport after suffering a malfunction during a flight to Kermanshah. The incident caused part of the cabin ceiling to collapse, while passengers were overcome with panic.

Footage filmed by one of the passengers and shared online shows the aircraft shaking violently before several ceiling panels fell onto passengers in their seats. Screams and prayers were heard following the incident, while portions of the plane’s internal structure remained exposed.

According to reports carried by the international press, a landing-gear tire may have exploded, possibly during takeoff. The information has not been officially confirmed. The aircraft returned to Mashhad, and all passengers and crew members were evacuated safely. No injuries were reported, and the passengers were later transferred to another flight to Kermanshah.

The runway at Mashhad Airport was temporarily closed for inspections and reopened the same day. The incident occurred just days after another Sepehran Boeing 737-500 veered off the runway while landing at Mashhad Airport. No casualties were reported in that incident either.

Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization has opened an investigation. Iran’s aviation industry has faced difficulties procuring spare parts and maintenance services for several decades, amid sanctions imposed by the United States.