The controller's "final approach path is clear" bought them seconds
Show notes
A controller told them "final approach path is clear" as an ATR-72 descended over the Zagros - did they make it in time?
The controller's "final approach path is clear" bought them seconds
In this episode, we follow the flight, the crew, and the decisions that led an ATR-72 to descend below safe altitude toward the Zagros Mountains. We lay out the weather, the cockpit dynamics, and the sequence of actions that pulled the aircraft closer to terrain - could a single radio call have steered the course?
Date: 18 February 2018
Aircraft: ATR 72-212, registration EP-ATS
Route: Tehran (Mehrabad) to Yasuj
Crew: Captain Hojatollah Foolad (17,000+ hrs); First Officer Kaveh Khalili (~1,800 hrs)
Weather: Ceiling 9,000 ft (minimum required 11,000 ft); cumulonimbus, thunderstorm risk
- Departure crossed company minima: flight dispatched despite METARs and forecast below required ceiling.
- Controller at Yasuj tower radioed "the final approach path was clear" at 05:49 UTC, which the crew accepted.
- Aircraft descended from 16,975 ft into the Zagros and was 500 ft below the minimum safe altitude for the corridor.
- Ground proximity alarm activated and sounded continuously in the final moments recorded by the flight data recorder.
- Investigators reaching the remote crash site on foot recovered data showing a chain of plausible decisions and cockpit dynamics rather than a single catastrophic mechanical failure.
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© 2026 Created by an independent creator of the OBOMEDIA Network. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the property of their respective creator, who is solely responsible for them, and are distributed by the OBOMEDIA Network on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without the creator's prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
The controller's "final approach path is clear" bought them seconds
In this episode, we follow the flight, the crew, and the decisions that led an ATR-72 to descend below safe altitude toward the Zagros Mountains. We lay out the weather, the cockpit dynamics, and the sequence of actions that pulled the aircraft closer to terrain - could a single radio call have steered the course?
Date: 18 February 2018
Aircraft: ATR 72-212, registration EP-ATS
Route: Tehran (Mehrabad) to Yasuj
Crew: Captain Hojatollah Foolad (17,000+ hrs); First Officer Kaveh Khalili (~1,800 hrs)
Weather: Ceiling 9,000 ft (minimum required 11,000 ft); cumulonimbus, thunderstorm risk
- Departure crossed company minima: flight dispatched despite METARs and forecast below required ceiling.
- Controller at Yasuj tower radioed "the final approach path was clear" at 05:49 UTC, which the crew accepted.
- Aircraft descended from 16,975 ft into the Zagros and was 500 ft below the minimum safe altitude for the corridor.
- Ground proximity alarm activated and sounded continuously in the final moments recorded by the flight data recorder.
- Investigators reaching the remote crash site on foot recovered data showing a chain of plausible decisions and cockpit dynamics rather than a single catastrophic mechanical failure.
Tired of ads? Listen to this podcast and 200+ more ad-free on OBOMEDIA.
Try it free for 7 days, cancel anytime: https://obomedia.com/en/gratis?ref=desc-7317291
© 2026 Created by an independent creator of the OBOMEDIA Network. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the property of their respective creator, who is solely responsible for them, and are distributed by the OBOMEDIA Network on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without the creator's prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].