Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli raids targeted a cement plant, an asphalt factory, and fuel tanks in the Ansar area in South Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A series of violent Israeli raids targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of the town of Shmestar in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon
Donald Trump will speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday: White House
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes raid the town of Bnaafoul, Saida district
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Palestinian shot and killed by IOF east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Occupation forces opened machine gun fire toward outskirts of Aitaroun as locals headed for olive harvest.

Copter carrying Iran's President makes hard landing in East Azerbaijan

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 May 2024 17:03
  • 4 Shares
4 Min Read

Iranian state TV says the helicopter was one of three helicopters carrying Raisi and his accompanying delegation of senior officials.

  • x
  • Iranian president
    A handout picture provided by Iran's Presidency on December 23, 2023, shows Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (C) and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) attending the Tehran International Conference on Palestine in Iran's capital. (Iranian Presidency/AFP)

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi makes a hard landing in East Azerbaijan Province, Iranian media reported Sunday.

Iranian state TV mentioned that the helicopter was one of three carrying Raisi and his accompanying delegation of senior officials, which also included Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the Friday Prayers Imam of Tabriz, in addition to other officials.

The TV added that Raisi's helicopter was forced to land due to bad weather conditions. It confirmed that rescue teams had headed to the scene of the incident, adding that the bad weather conditions in the western region of Iran were hindering the rescue teams' access to the location.

Iranian Army Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri ordered the employment of all resources of the army and the Guards for rescue and search operations.

Initial footage shows the arrival of rescue teams and the beginning of search operations for the helicopter that was carrying the Iranian president and his accompanying delegation. #Iran pic.twitter.com/PyGvrq1nCa

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2024

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state TV that "various rescue groups are moving toward the site, but due to the fog and bad weather, it may take time to reach the area," adding that "operations are under control."

Vahidi explained that "there have been contacts with [the president's] companions, but given that the area is mountainous and it is difficult to establish contacts," expressing hope that "rescue teams will reach the site of the incident sooner and give us more information."

#WATCH | More footage shows rescue teams during their search operations for the helicopter that was carrying the Iranian president and his accompanying delegation amid evident bad weather conditions.#Iran pic.twitter.com/kKwYSDmpxr

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2024

Iran's Nour News Agency said that 16 relief teams headed to the area, but the mountainous terrain in the forest and bad weather conditions are hindering relief operations.

It added that relief teams arrived an hour later at the scene of the incident in Varzeghan and began search operations immediately.

Local Iranian media have reported that it is heavily raining in the area in Varzeghan District, and it is hard for the rescue and search teams to walk in the dense fog.

Related News

Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan in talks to deploy troops to Gaza

Iran Navy vessels arrive in Azerbaijan for AZIREX-2025 joint exercise

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Iran said that the location of the Iranian president's helicopter has been identified near the village of Uzi in the Arasbaran forests, pointing out that the weather conditions and the geographical nature of the location are hindering access to the site of the incident.

Iranian Red Crescent President Pir Hossein Kolivand told Iranian television that 40 teams are participating in the search operations for the Iranian president's helicopter, but due to bad weather conditions, aerial search operations cannot further proceed.

Kolivand added that one of the rescue teams reached an area near the possible location of the incident of the presidential helicopter.

Later, state media reported that the dispatched rescue teams would reach the probable coordinates of President Raisi's helicopter within half an hour, while Al Mayadeen's correspondent revealed that four rescue teams approached the landing site of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi, with a total of 46 teams deployed.

However, shortly after, citing an Iranian Red Crescent source, Al Mayadeen's correspondent said that the roads leading to the location of the helicopter were no longer passable due to heavy rain, adding that rescue teams were now advancing on foot due to the difficult road conditions.

On his part, the spokesperson for the Iranian government confirmed that a cabinet meeting will be held today to discuss the latest developments. 

Meanwhile, the Iranian government's Crisis Management Committee held an emergency session to follow up on the search operations, our correspondent said.

According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has headed to Tabriz to oversee the search operations.

Publicly, Iranian media published footage of Iranians praying and hoping for the safety of Raisi and his accompanying delegation at the Imam Reza shrine in the city of Mashhad.

الإيرانيون يصلون ويدعون لسلامة #الرئيس_الإيراني والمسؤولين الآخرين في مرقد الإمام الرضا في مدينة #مشهد.#إيران #إبراهيم_رئيسي pic.twitter.com/v7j8bB6koZ

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) May 19, 2024

Earlier on Sunday, Raisi had arrived at Tabriz Airport to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the joint Qiz Qalasi dam on the Aras River, which borders Iran and Azerbaijan, in the presence of his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev.

This is a developing story...

  • Azerbaijan
  • East Azerbaijan province
  • Ebrahim Raisi
  • Ahmad Vahidi
  • Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
  • Iran

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
The bodies of deceased Palestinians, held by Israel during the war, lie in plastic bags on the floor of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, following their release, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' returns 30 Palestinian bodies; some bear marks of torture

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of war debris as crisis deepens
Politics

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of debris, 20,000 lingering UXOs

Ex-White House adviser Ashley Tellis charged over secret files
Politics

Ex-White House advisor accused of amassing troves of top secret files

An Israeli soldier rests by a mobile artillery unit at a gathering point on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern “Israel”, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Global arms bans isolate 'Israel', yet its war machine keeps running

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS