Iran has issued its preliminary findings regarding the recent helicopter crash that tragically took the lives of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, his entourage, and other officials. According to the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, there is no indication of foul play in the incident.
Following the crash, a senior investigation committee comprising experts and technicians promptly arrived at the crash site, as reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Friday.
The initial report reveals that the helicopter remained on its designated flight path without deviation. Approximately one minute and a half before the crash, the pilot communicated with the other helicopters in the President’s convoy.
Investigators found no evidence of gunfire or similar items on the wreckage, according to a report quoted by the Xinhua news agency. The crash resulted in a fire upon impact with the mountainous terrain.
The challenging conditions of the region, including fog and low temperatures, prolonged search and rescue efforts until dawn. Drones were utilized to pinpoint the exact location of the incident at 5 a.m. local time on Monday.
Conversations between the watchtower and the flight crew revealed no suspicious issues, the report stated. Further investigations are underway, with additional details expected to be released in due course.
President Raisi and his delegation were en route to East Azerbaijan province when the crash occurred. Among those onboard were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader to East Azerbaijan.
President Raisi was laid to rest on Thursday at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown of Mashhad, marking a solemn farewell to the respected leader.
