Boeing 737 flown by Oman Air damaged by runway debris in Iran, stranding aircraft

A Boeing 737 belonging to Oman Air was grounded in Iran on Tuesday after suffering damage “caused by debris on the runway” at Shiraz International Airport.

The sultanate’s flag carrier, which has its headquarters in Muscat, has not specified what debris the plane hit upon landing in Shiraz on Monday. The incident involving the aircraft was not immediately acknowledged by Iranian officials.

The airline posted a statement online stating that “our engineering team is taking the necessary steps to safely bring the aircraft back to Muscat.” The route was stated as being a chartered flight, and those that got stuck were given lodging in Shiraz, which is located around 680 kilometers (420 miles) southeast of Tehran.

However, returning damaged aircraft has proven difficult for other airlines. Spare aviation parts are no longer available in the Islamic Republic due to U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran due to its nuclear program. That makes it more difficult to repair aircraft from Boeing Co. and Airbus, both of which use parts made in the United States.

A brand-new Boeing 737 Max operated by Norwegian Air Shuttle in December 2018 made an emergency landing in Shiraz after experiencing engine trouble while en route from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Before ultimately taking off, the aircraft was stranded there for several months.

Like many airports in the Middle East, Shiraz’s airport serves both commercial and military planes.

Through the years, despite tensions between Tehran and its Gulf Arab neighbors and the United States, Iran and Oman have remained close. Oman has repeatedly acted as a point of contact between the West and Iran.