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| Iran's President, Ebrahim Raisi was confirmed dead by the country's government officials in the crash of his helicopter. - Reuters photo |
Tragic Helicopter Accident, Iran Officially Announces the Death of President Ebrahim Raisi
Varzaqan, May 20, 2024 — The helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi** crashed near the border with Azerbaijan on Sunday. Here are the details and the latest developments.President Raisi was on an official trip to the eastern province of Azerbaijan. During the visit, he inaugurated a dam alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. On the return journey, the helicopter carrying President Raisi had to make an emergency landing. The crash site is near Jolfa, a border town with Azerbaijan, approximately 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of Tehran. A large-scale rescue operation was immediately launched to locate the exact crash site. Over 40 rescue personnel, equipped with search dogs and drones, were dispatched to the accident location. The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society stated that the helicopter was in "poor condition." State television reported that the helicopter was severely damaged due to the crash and subsequent fire. After an extensive search, President Iran Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage were confirmed to have perished in the helicopter accident. Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, was also among the victims. A drone sent by Turkey identified a heat source at the crash site. The coordinates were shared with Iranian authorities. Commander of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, traveled to the crash site to investigate and expedite rescue operations. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians not to worry, emphasizing that there would be "no disruption to the country's activities."
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of life's fragility and the importance of safety in every journey. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
WHAT CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO CRASH?
The helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi crashed in northern Iran due to adverse weather conditions. Here's what we know so far. President Raisi was flying to the far north-western province of East Azerbaijan for the inauguration of the Qiz Qalasi and Khoda Afarin dams, a joint hydroelectric power project with neighboring Azerbaijan on the Aras river. He was accompanied by Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev. Along with President Raisi, there were seven other people on board who tragically lost their lives in the crash. These included Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, Malek Rahmati, and Tabriz’s Friday prayer leader, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem. Other victims included IRGC Brig-Gen Mohammad Mehdi Mousavi, the head of the president's security team, pilots Col Mohsen Daryanush and Col Seyyed Taher Mostafavi, and technician Maj Behrouz Qadimi. The incident occurred in a remote, mountainous area approximately 58 km (36 miles) south of the Qiz-Qalasi Dam and 2 km southwest of the village of Uzi. The helicopter experienced a “hard landing” while flying to Tabriz in heavy fog and rain. The challenging weather conditions and local terrain hampered rescue efforts. Intelligence authorities have ruled out foul play, attributing the crash to the severe weather conditions. Search-and-rescue teams, including drones and search dogs, have been deployed to locate the crash site.
Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.