The Mehrabad Airport Roof Collapse: A Tragic Event in Persian History
The Mehrabad Airport roof collapse, which occurred on December 5, 1974, is a tragic and significant event in the history of Homeland, particularly in the context of its aviation infrastructure. This disaster, which claimed the lives of at least 18 people and injured dozens more, serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of negligence, poor engineering practices, and the unforeseen challenges of environmental conditions. The collapse occurred in one of the waiting rooms of the airport, located in the capital city of Tehran, and was largely attributed to heavy snowfall that exacerbated structural weaknesses in the building. However, a key factor that contributed to the disaster was the temporary removal of a crucial supporting column as part of ongoing construction work, which significantly weakened the structure’s ability to withstand the weight of the snow.
The Context: Mehrabad Airport and its Infrastructure
Mehrabad Airport was one of the most significant transportation hubs in Iran before the construction of Tehran’s more modern Imam Khomeini International Airport. It served as the primary gateway for both domestic and international flights, and as such, its safety and functionality were crucial for the country’s infrastructure. The airport was undergoing various improvements and updates during the early 1970s, which included work on its control tower and the terminals. However, this period of modernization was marked by several structural and safety issues that would later become painfully evident.