Helicopter carrying Iran president reportedly crashes
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and senior officials in northwestern Iran has suffered a crash, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
No information is available yet on potential injuries or damage.
Raisi (above) was returning from a ceremony to open a dam on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan when his helicopter crashed upon landing in the Varzaqan region yesterday.
Iranian state television reported that the accident occurred when the helicopter made a hard landing while returning from the region.
Also on the helicopter were Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, Tabriz Friday prayer leader Hojjatoleslam Al Hashem, and several others.
An IRNA correspondent said rescue and relief teams have been dispatched to the area and search operations continue.
Foggy weather and the impassability of the area have made the search operations difficult.
Heat source identified
A Turkiye Akinci unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) identified a heat source earlier today suspected to be the helicopter wreckage, reported Anadolu Agency.
The Turkish National Defense Ministry had assigned the Akinci UAV and a Cougar-type helicopter with night vision capabilities to participate in search activities.
Search and rescue teams reported that work continues with difficulty due to adverse weather conditions.
- Bernama
