ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi made a “hard landing” in the north of the country on Sunday afternoon, Iranian media reported. There are no immediate details of casualties or injuries.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state media that one of three helicopters traveling together was forced to make a “hard landing” due to bad weather.
The incident occurred in East Azerbaijan province, in the north of the country where heavy fog is making it difficult for rescue teams to reach the site, according to IRNA.
On Sunday evening, hours after the crash, rescue teams believe they are closing in on the location of the crash site and have communicated with two of the people who were on board, according to Vice President for executive affairs Mohsen Mansouri, IRNA reported.
An extensive search and rescue operation is underway with teams from the Red Crescent Society, as well as military and law enforcement personnel.
IRNA reported on Sunday night that military cops in East Azerbaijan identified the location of the helicopter.
"We have utilized drones and aerial measures, but due to the poor weather conditions, aerial search operations are not feasible. The area is rugged and mountainous,” said Red Crescent chief Pir Hossein Kolivand, Tasnim reported.
Vahidi said that the rescue teams are on their way to the area, but “communication is difficult and we hope rescue teams arrive quickly at the scene.”
Mahdi Safari, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, told state TV that they have twice spoken with Imam Juma Tabriz, one of the passengers on the helicopter who said that he did not feel well and “could hear the sound of ambulances.”
In his first statement after Raisi’s helicopter went missing, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for prayers for the president and others on board and said that government business will not be affected.
Eveyone should pray for the health of these people who are serving the Iranian nation. The nation doesn't need to be worried or anxious as the administration of the country will not be disrupted at all.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 19, 2024
Several other officials were on board, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, according to Tasnim.
The Iranian president travelled to East Azerbaijan to preside over the opening of a dam near the border with Azerbaijan.
Two other helicopters traveling in the same convoy reached their destination safely.
Iraq has offered its help to Iran in the search. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani directed the Interior Ministry and the Iraqi Red Crescent Society to provide assistance, according to a statement from his office.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani took to X to show solidarity with the Iranian nation.
“I am following the news of President Raisi’s helicopter crash with deep concern. I ask God to keep them and their companions safe. Our hearts are with them and we pray for them. Our thoughts are with the leadership and people of our friend and neighbor Iran at this difficult time,” Barzani said.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on X that he is 'deeply concerned' about Raisi's helicopter crash, and his thoughts are with the people on board and their families.
I’m deeply concerned about the helicopter crash in Iran. I hope President Raisi and the other passengers are safe. My thoughts are with them and their families, and I pray for the well-being of everyone on board -mb.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) May 19, 2024
The European Union announced it was providing assistance to Iran by activating its Copernicus Emergency Management Service rapid response satellite mapping, on the request of Tehran, EU’s commissioner for crisis management Janez Lenarcic said on X.
Turkey’s disaster response agency (AFAD) announced that Tehran had requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Ankara.
“32 mountain search and rescue personnel along with 6 vehicles, from the Van and Erzurum provincial directorates of AFAD, have been dispatched to reach the area,” the agency announced on X, adding that rescue teams from Ankara, Konya and Diyarbakir (Amed) were on standby.
Updated at 10:57 pm
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