Preliminary probe says nothing unusual about Raisi helicopter crash

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 May 2024 03:48

Ongoing investigations conducted by a high-level Iranian committee found no evidence of Raisi's helicopter being shot down or attacked.

Rescue team members search an area near the crash site of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Varzaghan, in northwestern Iran, on May 20, 2024. (AFP)

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran published Thursday the preliminary report issued by the high investigation committee regarding the reason behind the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and an accompanying delegation.

President Raisi's helicopter followed its pre-planned itinerary and did not divert from it, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stressing that the helicopter's pilot was in contact with the crewmembers of the two other helicopters that were part of the presidential convoy.

"There were no marks indicating that the helicopter was shot down or came under any attack," the statement added.

"The President's helicopter caught fire upon crashing into the hills," the statement explained.

The search and rescue operations for the helicopter, the statement said, continued until 5:00 am (local time) due to the rugged nature of the terrain, the fog, and the harsh weather.

At the end of the briefing, the General Staff of the Armed Forces stressed that further investigation would need more time, noting that a large part of the necessary documents and evidence had been collected.

Bagheri orders investigation into helicopter crash

Earlier on Monday, Iranian Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday.

Bagheri ordered a high-ranking committee to "launch an investigation into the cause of the president's helicopter crash", the ISNA news agency reported hours after it was revealed that the Iranian President did not survive the crash.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and accompanying officials passed away in the tragic helicopter crash in Iran's East Azerbaijan Province, according to an official statement by Iranian state media.

After locating the helicopter carrying the Iranian President and accompanying officials on the morning of May 20, Iran's Red Crescent Society (IRCS) issued a preliminary statement noting that there was "no sign of life" found near the wreckage locations.

This announcement came over 16 hours after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps reported they had lost contact with the helicopter carrying the officials. Since then, at least 73 rapid response and rescue teams from the provinces of East Azarbaijan, Tehran, Alborz, Ardabil, Zanjan, and West Azarbaijan were involved in the search and rescue operations led by the Iranian RCS.