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Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi‘s life is at risk after his helicopter crashed in a “very concerning” accident amid heavy fog in northern Iran.
The aircraft had a “rough landing” near Jolfa, the Iranian city on the border of Azerbaijani exclave Nakhchivan, around 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital Tehran.
It was carrying Raisi, 63, and Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian following a visit with the Azerbaijani president to discuss an infrastructure project over the Aras River, which separates Iran and Nakhchivan.
Iranian state TV had reported that the helicopter had been found and quoted an official as saying that at least one passenger and crew member had been in contact with rescuers.
However, Iran’s Red Crescent has denied reports the aircraft was discovered. Earlier, an Iranian official acknowleged their lives were “at risk” and said information coming from the crash site was “very concerning”.
State media has yet to report on casualties or confirm the whereabouts or condition of the president - but urged Iranians to pray for the president.
Key points
- Iranian president’s life ‘at risk’ following helicopter crash
- Conflicting reports over Iranian president's helicopter being found
- What do we know so far?
- Mapped: Where was the crash?
Iranian president’s life ‘at risk’ following helicopter crash
Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi‘s life is at risk after his helicopter crashed in a “very concerning” accident amid heavy fog in northern Iran.
The aircraft had a “rough landing” near Jolfa, the Iranian city on the border of Azerbaijan exclave Nakhchivan, around 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital Tehran.
It was carrying Raisi, 63, and Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian following a visit with the Azerbaijani president to discuss an infrastructure project over the Aras River.
An Iranian official acknowleged their lives were “at risk” and said information coming from the crash site was “very concerning” with 16 teams trying to locate the helicopter.
Alexander Butler19 May 2024 16:26 1716163200Where was the crash?
The aircraft had a “rough landing” near Jolfa, the Iranian city on the border of Azerbaijan exclave Nakhchivan, around 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital Tehran.
It was carrying Raisi, 63, and Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian following a visit with the Azerbaijani president to discuss an infrastructure project over the Aras River.
It was described as a crash by a local official, but he acknowledged an enormous search operation involving 16 teams had yet to locate the helicopter to confirm the extent of the incident.
View more Alexander Butler20 May 2024 01:00 1716152423UN hopes for safety of president
The United Nations is following reports of Iranian president Raisi’s crashed helicopter with concern and hopes for his safety, a spokesperson said.
“The Secretary-General is following reports of an incident with Iranian President Raisi’s aircraft with concern. He hopes for the safety of the president and his entourage,” the spokesperson said.
IRGC commander-in-chief arrives at search site
General Hossein Salami, the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, along with a group of IRGC commanders, has arrived in the area.
They are in area to investigate the incident and to issue orders aimed at the search and rescue operations - which are being carried out by around 40 teams.
Alexander Butler19 May 2024 21:45 1716150320Pictured: Iranians pray for president following helicopter crash
Iranians have been pictured praying for the health of their president Ebrahim Raisi after officials said his life was at risk following a helicopter crash.
On Sunday, Iran’s supreme leader urged Iranians not to worry about the crash and insisted they pray for his health and return Tehran.
Iranian cabinet holds emergency meeting
Iran’s cabinet, chaired by the first vice president Mohammad Mokhber, held an emergency meeting Sunday evening.
“The meeting focused on the hard landing of the president’s helicopter upon the first vice president’s directive,” state media reported.
“The first vice president instructed the minister of health and the executive vice president to travel to the affected region.
“The convening of this emergency meeting aimed to mobilise all available resources to monitor and respond to President Ebrahim Raisi’s situation following the helicopter accident.”
Alexander Butler19 May 2024 21:20 1716148674What helicopter was Raisi travelling in?
President Ebrahim Raisi was aboard a Bell 212 helicopter, according to Iranian news agencies.
This twin-engine helicopter has been produced in the US, Canada and Italy. It can carry up to 15 passengers.
They are typically unarmed and serve civilian purposes such as rescue operations, firefighting, and transportation.
Pictured: Emergency services rush to find the helicopter crash site in rain, fog and dark
Emergency services have been pictured rushing to track down the helicopter crash site in rain, fog and dark amid conflicting reports it had been found.
Iranian state TV has reported that the helicopter had been found and quoted an official as saying that at least one passenger and crew member had been in contact with rescuers.
However, Iran’s Red Crescent has denied reports the aircraft was discovered.
What do we know so far?
It was reported on Sunday afternoon that a helicopter carrying Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister had been involved in a “rough landing” in northern Iran.
It is not exactly clear what a “rough landing” meant, but a local official described it as a crash and and Iranian official went on to acknowledge the passenger’s lives were “at risk” with “very concerning” information coming from the site.
More than 16 teams including ambulances, surgeons, the army, rangers, drones and dogs have been dispatched to the area to find the helicopter but so far foggy weather conditions have slowed down the search.
Iranian state TV has reported that the helicopter had been found and quoted an official as saying that at least one passenger and crew member had been in contact with rescuers.
However, Iran’s Red Crescent has denied reports the aircraft was discovered.
The crash site is believed to be near Jolfa and Varzaghan, two cities in Iran’s Eastern Azerbaijan province in the north of the country - which borders both Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave.
View more Alexander Butler19 May 2024 20:28 1716146756Russia ready to help Iran in helicopter crash
Russia is ready help Iran search for a missing helicopter that crashed while carrying the country’s president Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday, the Kremlin said.
“Russia is ready to extend all necessary help in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the reasons for the incident,” Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
She added: “We sincerely hope that they are alive and that nothing is threatening their lives and health.”
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