TEHRAN - The pilot of an Asseman Air passenger aircraft was forced to eject its fuel into the sea 15 minutes after takeoff and then make an emergency landing on Kish Island.

According to the Central News Bureau the aircraft had left Kish bound for Tehran on Friday night.

Passengers said that the airplane's wing had caught fire. Asseman Air officials denied the passengers' claims. However, one of the airlift's officials who refused to be named confirmed the fuel dump into the sea.