The location of the crashed helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi is discovered.
In search of the Iranian president's crashed helicopter, emergency teams comb through rugged mountainous regions. The Iranian Red Crescent chief expresses bleak prospects for the survival of Raisi and Iran's foreign minister.
During a quest that lasted hours, rescue workers in Iran stumbled upon the crash site of a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian. The head of the Iranian Red Crescent, Pir-Hussein Kuliwand, conveyed an unfavorable status on national television early Monday morning. On the steep forested slope, the helicopter was found, approximately two kilometers from the team. "The situation isn't great," he stated.
A video broadcast by the Iranian state news agency Irna depicted the suspected crash location. Rescue workers utilized a camera drone to acquire a general perspective. These rescuers conveyed that the helicopter's cabin appeared to be "completely engulfed by fire." Initially, scarce details were revealed. When the helicopter was discovered, "signs of life from the passengers were absent," according to the report.
Earlier, the Turkish air force spotted a mysterious heat source on the ground at the suspected helicopter crash site, based on its search. A Ministry of Defense-assigned drone supplied picture evidence of the location in the early morning. The Turkish state news agency Anadolu divulged the coordinates, which were consequently transmitted to the Iranian authorities. An Anadolu photograph showed a black spot that was distinct from its surroundings.
The helicopter carrying Raisi and Amirabdollahian vanished from the radar on Sunday while returning from a meeting in neighboring Azerbaijan. Its final location was in East Azerbaijan's northern region. Intense rainfall and strong winds hampered the search process in the mountainous area. Nine individuals were aboard the helicopter, also including Tabriz's governor. Irna stated that Raisi was flying in a Bell 212 helicopter, a US-produced model.
Mixed reactions to the accident: Iranians rejoice while the government remains calm
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei encouraged the population to remain unconcerned, according to Irna news agency. "There will be no disruption to business," he ensured the citizenry. Raisi's spiritual leadership stressed that the incident wouldn't hinder government operations. He prayed for Raisi's wellbeing.
Raisi officially assumed Iran's presidency in August 2021; his election victory came after Hassan Ruhani, who was barred from running again after two terms. As the preferred candidate of political hardliners and Khamenei's protégé, Raisi secured almost 62% of the vote in the presidential contest. However, Raisi's government has long faced criticism for its repressive societal policies and economic turmoil. Notably, it pushed for the enforcement of mandatory headscarves.
Iranians openly celebrated the accident, wishing the helicopter occupants ill on social media. Bonfire images in Tehran circulated. The Iranian government cautioned its populace against following news from foreign sources.
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After locating the helicopter crash site, it was revealed that the downed aircraft was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian. Despite the urgent efforts of rescue workers, there were no signs of life among the passengers, including Tabriz's governor.
Following the announcement of the plane crash, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the citizens to remain calm, assuring them that the incident would not disrupt government operations.
Source: www.ntv.de
