Families of victims of the commercial liner that crashed today in the northwestern Iranian region gathered at Zvartnots International airport to get information regarding their relatives.

According to preliminary information 30 out of 168 passengers were Armenian traveling from International Imam Khomeini Airport in the Iranian capital of Tehran, to Zvartnots International Airport in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan. Two passengers were children and 15 were staff members. Passengers confirmed so far were 42 year old Grigor Barsegyan, and 43 year old Surik Soghomonyan from Echmiadzin. Many others on the flight were Georgian.

The names of the deaths are already fastened on the walls of the ‘Armavia’ International Airlines, but the list of those names is not complete yet.

Currently three medical brigades are working in Zvartnots Airport, assisting those who are overcome by news of the crash. Within an hour of the news of the crash, some 20-30 people had been treated for trauma.

An Iranian fire brigade emergency official told CNN that witnesses saw “a great fireball” and that the crash scene encompasses about 200 square meters, including a crater created apparently from impact. The official said the search is now for “bodies” and “parts”. Judging by the crash-site scene, no survivors are expected.

Representative of ‘Caspian’ Aviation Company Armen Davidyan siad that they cannot say anything at the moment about the reasons of the crash.

Caspian operates five flights from Tehran to Yerevan weekly.

The last major plane crash that originated in Armenian capital was in May 2006, when An Armavia airliner plunged into the Black Sea on May 3, killing all 113 people on board.

ArmeniaNow is following news and will report additional details as they emerge.