On May 19, 2024, a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian crashed in East Azerbaijan province, Iran, amid poor weather conditions. The incident was initially reported as a 'hard landing' by Iranian state media, but later confirmed as a crash. Rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy fog. The condition of President Raisi and the other passengers remains unknown, with an Iranian official expressing concern over their safety. International observers and the public are closely monitoring updates.
Iranian President Raisi's Helicopter Crashes in East Azerbaijan Province Date: May 19, 2024 Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter crashed in the country's East Azerbaijan province during his return from a visit to Azerbaijan. The incident occurred near the village of Uzi, as reported by state media. President Raisi was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, and other officials and bodyguards.
The helicopter, which was part of a convoy, reportedly experienced a "hard landing" due to adverse weather conditions, including heavy fog. The exact cause of the accident remains unclear.
Rescue operations are underway, despite challenging weather conditions and the remote, forested location of the crash site. At least 20 rescue teams, including drones and search dogs, have been deployed to the area. However, the harsh weather and dense fog are complicating the search efforts. Iranian officials have confirmed that there was contact with some passengers on the helicopter, indicating that there may have been survivors. However, the extent of the damage and the exact number of casualties or injuries remain unknown.
The visit to Azerbaijan, where President Raisi inaugurated a dam on the Aras river with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, comes amid strained relations between the two countries. These tensions include a gun attack on Azerbaijan's Embassy in Tehran in 2023 and Azerbaijan's diplomatic relations with Israel, which Iran's Shiite theocracy views as its main enemy in the region. President Raisi, who is also under U.S. sanctions for his involvement in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988, was elected in 2021 during an election that saw the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic's history. As the search and rescue efforts continue, the international community watches closely, hoping for the safe recovery of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, and all others involved in the accident. 17GEN4.com
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