The search for Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter crash site has been successful.
In the midst of an exhausting search, rescue workers come across the wreckage of Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi's, crashed helicopter. The Iranian Red Crescent's chief, Pir-Hussein Kuliwand, shares minimal optimism about finding Raisi and Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian alive.
During a rescue operation that lasted for several hours, Iran's rescue teams came across the helicopter where they believe President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian were traveling when it crashed. Early Monday morning, Kuliwand announced on state television that the emergency services were about two kilometers away from the site, and had identified it. According to him, the situation wasn't looking too hopeful. It is unlikely that Raisi is still alive, a nameless Iranian government representative informed Reuters.
Earlier, the Turkish air force detected a suspicious heat source on the ground, possibly linked to the helicopter's crash site. This information was obtained through a drone dispatched by the Turkish Ministry of Defense, which was engaged in the search for the missing helicopter. Images of the site were captured by the drone during the early hours, and passed on to the Iranian authorities. Anadolu reported that an aerial photo released showed a clear black spot in contrast to its surroundings.
The Turkish news outlet also commented on the sudden disappearance from the radar of the helicopter, which had Raisi and Amirabdollahian on board. It provided no further details about the incident, except that it had happened during the return trip from a meeting in Azerbaijan. The helicopter was last spotted in the northwestern part of Iran, in the East Azerbaijan province. Weather conditions in the region, marked by heavy rainfall and strong winds, made the rescue operation tricky and challenging.
Nine occupants of the helicopter were reported, including Tabris's governor.
As reported in Irna news agency, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appealed to the populace, asking them not to panic or be anxious. He vowed that the ongoing mission of the government wouldn't be affected by the unfortunate incident. He also offered prayers for the wellbeing of Raisi.
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The rescue operation revealed that the crashed helicopter was indeed Ebrahim Raisi's, shedding uncertainty over his whereabouts. Reuters reported that a representative from the Iranian government expressed doubt about Raisi's survival after the plane crash in Iran.
Source: www.ntv.de
