YEREVAN, TEHRAN (Combined Sources)—The Armenian Foreign Ministry reported Wednesday that among the 168 victims of the Caspian Air crash, 40 were Armenians, among them Dr. Levon Davitian, a former member of the Iranian Parliament and chairman of the Tehran Prelacy Executive Council.
A Yerevan-bound Iranian passenger plane crashed in northwest of Iran, near the city of Ghazvin, just before noon on Wednesday, with all 168 people on board confirmed dead.
The Tupolev plane reportedly went down near Jannat-abad village near Ghazvin at 11:33 am local time after it took off from the Iranian capital Tehran to fly to Armenian capital Yerevan.
The list of the victims published by the Armenian Head Department of Civil Aviation shows most of the passengers were Iranians and Armenians.
Armenia’s President Serzh Sarkisian cut shot his provincial trip on Wednesday and promptly returned to capital Yerevan upon learning the news, his presidential office confirmed to RFE/RL.
In his words of condolences released by his office, Sarkisian said: “We can’t recover the losses, but we express our support to the families and friends of the victims.” Sarkisian also declared July 16 a national day of mourning.
“The Armenian authorities are doing everything possible to help them at this difficult moment. It is difficult to find words of consolation for the people who lost a family member or relative. I wish them spiritual strength and courage to overcome this great tragedy,” said Sarkisian.
Sarkisian’s Iranian counterpart has also expressed condolences to the families of the victims. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reportedly ordered his country’s Roads and Transportation Ministry to launch a probe into the disaster.
Below is the list of Armenians who perished on the plane:
Annette Ajang
Nana Antashian
Edwin Asatrian
Arshavir Avakian
Azat Avanesian
Anoush Baboumian
Anna Poghosian
Levon Davtian
Martin Ter-Avanesian
Naira Stepanian
Shogher Stepanian
Melin Garanian
Karapet Ghoukasian
Armen Sargsian
Vavo Sargsian
Armen Sargsian
Yurik Shahbazian
Mrs. Shahmouradian
Khatchatour Simonian
Ara Siroyan
Zarmineh Souktazian
Vartanoush Tahmazian
Lousik Taroumian
Ramon Taroumian
Christine Ter-Hovannisian
Anahita Ter-Hovannisian
Tadeh Timash
R. Yaghoubian
Arthur Gregorian
Taline Karapetian
Edward Khatchik
Nairi Mayilian
Florik Hovsepian
Arshavir Manaserian
Karine Markarian
Massis Matian
Ani Melkoumkar
Arin Melkoumkar
Edward Navasartian
Ashot Nersisian
This is so tragic. My condolences to the families.
While my daughter is travelling with her husband for the last ten days, from Moscow-Odessa-Ukraine and today destination to Armenia for three weeks Holiday: upon hearing of the Caspian Air crash, I rang her mobile and told her “no matter how you travel but don’t get into a Soviet era and now Russian managed aeroplanes”…
May God illuminate their souls.
Christine Ter-hovanessian was my closest friend in the 7th and 8th grades at Iranzamin School in Tehran. I left Iran in 1974 but saw Christine and her dear mother in Paris in 1982. Despite 8 years of being separate, Christine arranged for me to stay with a friend at an apartment in Neuilly for the summer. We travelled that summer to the Massif Central, ate farm made cheese and drank wine in the country and visited the Chateaux de Cordes in Aurillac. Late in the summer we travelled to Edinburgh, Scotland where Christine had gone to University and still had a flat. Two years later Christine spent several months in Los Angeles, staying with Annette Sahakian in West Hollywood. Christine was brilliant, acerbic, sarcastic, warm, loving and a good friend. I will miss you dear friend.
Dear David,
I just now saw this article. I wonder if this is same Christian i kinew when I was working with her in shipping. She lived with her French mother in Tehran in Yousef Abad. A big house. he also worked a while in London. I spoke toher in April 2009 in Tehran and she was ok tgen. Pls help me
Thanks
Yes – that’s her Shahriar…
My family’s and my hearts go to the 168 victims all alike. It was shocking and horrible. May God give all their loved ones peace, comfort & courage to deal with this sudden tragedy and for the victims may God rest their sould in piece. We are truly, truly very sad and in shock. Our deep condolences with all involved.
My deep condolences to all this people who lost their beloved ones.
It is so very sad.
sad dghur em
This is so tragic. My condolences to the families.
My very dear cousin , Talin and her two brilliant , genius sons, armen and vahe joined eternity. We will only see their faces by looking at their pictures. Our family, not only mourns for our loss but also for every one else’s loss.
Please boycott the caspian airline, it is enough for innocent people to lose their lives just because few want to make some money and do not maintaine their planes. Dear Talin , armen & vahe rest in peace. we miss you .
I remember Taline Karapetian she was my sisters best friends sister. We went to the same school many years ago. I really can not find words. To Taline’s husband and sister Tina, I pray that Holy Spirit be with you and heal your heart and spirit. Even though I am on this side of the world but my prayers are with you.
My condolences to the families.God blessed my peaple…
It is very sad… My condolences to the families.
This is very tragic and sad. I knew 4 to 5 people in the plane. One of them was Azat Avanessian. Very carying, happy and family guy. Last time I saw him in I think it was in Armenia 3 years ago. I can not believe this is happening. My deep condolences to all this people who lost their beloved ones.
Artsakh has a strong birth rate and that’s fantastic.Armenians make more than two babies so our population will increase,God Bless The Armenians wherever they are from Argentina to Lebanon,from France to Russia,from Greece to the US,from Artsakh to Armenia,We are one nation!
Our deepest condolences to the families of all the victims. My cousin, pregnant, along with her husband, one of our friends with her two children, another cousin’s nephew, another friend from Isfahan; they were all on this plane. It is so sad that so many innocent people had to be victims of another’s greed. May God rest all the victims’ souls in piece. Hope that everyone in Iran boycotts this airline.
RIP Arthur Grigorian
To my cousin Ara Siroyan, the good heated person, family oriented and people loving person. May God rest your soul in piece. May God give your wife, son, mother and sister wisdom and strength to overcome the tragedy of loosing you and heal their hart. Dear cousin rest in piece.
I knew Christine Terhovanessian for about 10 years. She was a vibrant out going caring generous and beautiful human being . I actually called her a few days before the crash but we couldn’t talk so I thought we’d talk later. I was shocked to hear the news. May she rest in Peace
Rock On Chris!!
To my cousin Ara Siroyan.
Rest in peace, and may gold bless your sole, you certainly will not be forgotton, as a family member. May god give your wife, young son, mum and sister, and the rest of the family strenght to cope with your untimely departure.
Who would have thought we would be miles apart, when we were kids!?
God bless you and everyone else in this tragic crash.