Iran's Aria Air airline suspends activities

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Iran's Aria Air airline has suspended its activities. The move comes a day after the company's passenger plane skidded off the runway in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, killing at least 16 people on board.

Police arrive at the site of an passenger airplane crash in Mashhad, 924 km (577 miles) east of Tehran, July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Stringer Mahdi Ghorbani

The Russian-made plane was carrying 153 passengers and crew when it skidded off the runway and hit a wall while landing in the northeastern city on Friday.

Iran's civil aviation spokesman says the plane's high speed while landing was a key cause of the crash.

Crash survivors were taken to a local hospital to receive medical treatment.

Crash survivors, said, "There was a loud sound as if the plane was losing its wheels. I don't know whether the pilot couldn't control it or whether it was already out of control when it swerved left. We could just hear screams and people praying loudly. Thank God this number could survive."

Iranian State Television says Aria's license has been suspended until the investigation into the accident is completed.

The crash comes just over a week after another Iranian passenger plane nose-dived into the ground shortly after takeoff, killing all 168 people on board.