It has been confirmed that Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others died in a helicopter crash in the northwest of the country, Iranian state media reported.
Reports of the helicopter’s “hard landing” were first reported on Sunday after 4 p.m.
The helicopter crashed on May 19. In addition to the President Raisi, Imam of Tabriz Seyyed Muhammad Al Hashim, Governor of East Azerbaijan Malik Rehmati, Sardar Seyyed Mehdi Musavi, Commander of the Presidential Guard Unit and a number of guards and crew members were in the helicopter.
According to the Iranian News Agency, “unsuitable weather conditions” caused the helicopter crash.
On Monday morning, search teams found the crash site of the helicopter carrying President Ibrahim Raisi.
Iran’s state television said that there were “no signs of life” at the helicopter crash site.
The head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society told state television that the situation is not “good”.
“Ilna” news agency reports that Pirhuseyn Kolivand said that “rescuers have reached the remains of the helicopter”.
Reuters also quoted an Iranian official as saying that the helicopter was “completely burnt” as a result of the crash.
There are 73 rescue teams with advanced and special equipment in the search area of the helicopter – Taval village, he noted.
How did the incident happen?
The incident took place in the Dizmar forest between the cities of Varzagan and Julfa in the province of East Azerbaijan.
Ibrahim Raisi was on his way to Tabriz after meeting President Ilham Aliyev at the border with Azerbaijan on May 19, Iranian media reported.
According to official information, the helicopter in the convoy with President Ibrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdullahian “crashed”.
The commander of the East Azerbaijan Army Corps said that a signal was received from the mobile phone of the helicopter and one of the crew members.
Some time ago, an Iranian official told the Reuters news agency that “the lives of the Iranian president and foreign minister are in danger” after the helicopter crash.
According to this news, an Iranian official said: “We are still hopeful, but the information from the accident site is very disturbing.”
European Union crisis management commissioner Jantes Lenarchic announced that they launched the Copernicus satellite tracking system at the request of Iran.
The Copernicus program is a satellite program of the European Union in cooperation with the European Space Agency, which is capable of observing the Earth and taking high-resolution images.
The Emergency Management Agency of the Republic of Turkey said that Iran asked them for a search and rescue team with night vision.
The agency said that 32 mountain search and rescue teams set off with 6 vehicles.
In addition, 15 more mountain search and rescue vehicles have been put on standby, the Agency added.
Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates have offered assistance.
“The Turkish drone detected a source of heat” – Anadolu Agency
The Turkish drone, which joined the search for the crashed helicopter of President Ibrahim Raisi, detected a heat source, “Anadolu” agency reported.
The high-altitude, long-range Bayraktar Akıncı UAV, released by the agency, shows a dark spot on the hillside at night.
The agency said that the coordinates of the region were shared with Iranian officials.
Which countries offered help?
Let’s see how foreign officials reacted to the crash of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahi:
Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Iraq have offered to support rescue efforts to find the helicopter.
Russia has also offered to help investigate the causes of the accident.
The United Arab Emirates also offered support and declared that it stands by Iran.
Turkey sent a team of mountain rescuers to Iran, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he was saddened by the accident.
Erdoğan wrote in X that “I hope to receive good news from the chief and the staff soon.”
US President Joe Biden was informed about the incident, the spokesman of the White House announced.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is monitoring the incident, “he hopes that the President and the staff are safe,” the agency’s spokesperson said in a statement.
Khamenei to the people: “Pray”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said after the news of the helicopter crash that the people “should pray” for President Ibrahim Raisi, state TV IRIB reported.
“If the Iranian people are not worried, there will be no disruption in the work of the state,” Khamenei added.
Satellite images of the area where Ibrahim Reisi’s helicopter is believed to have crashed
The Planetary Institute released satellite images of the proximity of the Songun mine towards the Dizmar forests.
It is assumed that the helicopter carrying Ibrahim Reisin crashed in this area.
Satellite images show that the weather conditions in the area are extremely unfavorable. Heavy fog and clouds cover the area.
At the same time, it should be noted that this is a mountainous area with extensive vegetation.
Source: BBC.com
