Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister died when their helicopter crashed as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog, reports Reuters citing an Iranian official
“No survivors” were found at the crash site of the helicopter carrying Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, according to Iranian state media on Monday.
“Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet,” state TV reported.
After hours of searching through mountainous terrain in challenging weather conditions, rescue teams located the crashed helicopter, which was almost completely destroyed. “President Raisi’s helicopter was completely burned in the crash,” an official told Reuters.
The helicopter crashed in Jolfa, a mountainous region in the northwestern part of the country, on Sunday. The incident occurred as Raisi and his entourage were returning from a visit to Iran’s border with Azerbaijan.
Following Raisi’s death, the next in line for the presidency is First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, pending approval by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A total of nine people were aboard the helicopter, including Raisi, Abdollahian, three Iranian officials, an imam, and flight and security team members, CNN reported, citing Iranian media. Among the officials was the Governor of Eastern Azerbaijan province, Malek Rahmati.
Search efforts continued through the night and into Monday morning in East Azerbaijan province, hindered by dense fog and extreme cold.
One of Turkey’s ‘Akinci’ drones, sent to assist the rescue operations, reportedly identified a “source of heat suspected to be wreckage” of the helicopter, The Telegraph reported. A burning spot was detected, and rescue forces were dispatched to the area known as ‘Tavil,’ according to Iranian media. The Turkish drone shared its coordinates with Iranian authorities.
In addition to Turkey, Russia plans to send special aircraft and 50 professional mountain rescuers to the crash site to assist in the search operation. Two special Russian helicopters will be dispatched from Armenia, as ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.
PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi’s helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage.”
Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi’s helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 19, 2024