The helicopter carrying Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, along with other officials, has been located after losing contact following takeoff. The situation, however, is described as “not good” by Pirhossein Koolivand, the chief of Iran’s Red Crescent.
The helicopter, en route to the Iranian city of Tabriz after inaugurating the Qiz Qalasi Dam with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, crashed in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province, sparking immediate concerns and a massive search and rescue operation.
Pirhossein Koolivand stated, “The helicopter has been found. Now, we are moving toward the helicopter. The situation is not good,” adding to the urgency of the situation.
Drone footage shared by Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu identified a heat source believed to be the wreckage, aiding Iranian authorities in locating the helicopter. Iranian media also released drone images showing the wreckage, while state television announced that rescue teams had been notified of the accident’s coordinates.
Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi attributed the crash to poor weather conditions, with the helicopter making a “hard landing.” He urged the public to rely on state television for information and disregard foreign media.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assured the nation of continuity in governance, while international expressions of concern and offers of assistance poured in from various countries and organizations.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani expressed gratitude for the support received in the search and rescue efforts. Vice President Mohammad Mokhber led an emergency cabinet meeting following the incident, with rescue teams deployed to the mountainous region where the crash occurred.
The collaboration of multiple agencies, including the Army, Revolutionary Guard, and police, underscores the gravity of the situation as efforts intensify to ensure the safe return of President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions.
