Iran Air: 30 to 40 of Iran's operational aircraft destroyed in the war

Taher Abdolhay, chief executive of Iran Air, announced that 30 to 40 of Iran's operational aircraft were destroyed in the war and that another 70 to 80 aircraft were also targeted in attacks. His remarks, made at a press conference, drew wide attention on the morning of Tuesday, 20 October 2026, and are the latest and largest official estimate of the damage to Iran's air fleet. DIAR's earlier report covered his remarks about Iran Air flights to India and Singapore being barred.

According to Abdolhay, of more than 300 aircraft registered in Iran, only 130 to 140 were able to fly before this damage. He said the fuselages of some aircraft were pierced by missile strikes and that one Iran Air aircraft was completely destroyed. By these figures, a large part of the country's operational fleet has either been destroyed or damaged.

Contradictory figures from Islamic Republic officials

The new figure does not match earlier estimates by Islamic Republic officials. The secretary of the airlines association had earlier spoken of serious damage to about 20 aircraft, and the head of the parliament's civil engineering committee had put the number of damaged aircraft at about 50 and the destroyed at 10. The Iran Air chief executive did not say how many of the damaged aircraft can be repaired, nor did he offer an estimate of the final cost of the damage.

Abdolhay also said that sanctions and international restrictions have made it difficult to obtain aircraft, parts and financing, and have kept Iran Air away from some lucrative markets.

Background

On Monday, 19 October, the Iran Air chief executive had said India and Singapore are not granting flight permits to the company's aircraft for carrying medicine, and that of about 40 Iran Air aircraft only six are active. The US and Israeli war with the Islamic Republic began on 28 February 2026, and the cost of the regime's military adventures can now be seen in the grounding of the country's air fleet and in people's travel.

According to the Iran Air chief executive, of Iran's roughly 140 flyable aircraft, 30 to 40 have been destroyed in the war.