Tehran, May 26: The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces has released its preliminary findings on the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage. The incident occurred as the President’s convoy was heading back from his visit to East Azerbaijan province.
The report, quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency and Xinhua, states that the helicopter maintained its predetermined course and did not deviate from the flight route. Approximately 90 seconds before the crash, the pilot communicated with the other two helicopters in the convoy.
Importantly, the investigation found no traces of bullets or similar items on the wreckage, dispelling early speculations of foul play. The helicopter reportedly caught fire upon impact with the mountain, adding to the complexity of the search and rescue operations. The difficult terrain, combined with fog and low temperatures, extended the rescue efforts through the night. The exact location of the crash site was identified at 5 a.m. local time on Monday with the help of drones.
The report also confirmed that no suspicious activities were detected in the communications between the helicopter’s flight crew and the control tower. More detailed findings are expected after further investigations.
President Raisi was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the Supreme Leader’s representative to East Azerbaijan, among others. Raisi was laid to rest on Thursday at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown of Mashhad.
The tragic incident has cast a pall over Iran, leading to national mourning and significant political ramifications, including the announcement of a new presidential election scheduled for June 28.
