HELICOPTER CARRYING IRANIAN PRESIDENT SUFFERS HARD LANDING IN EAST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE
President Raisi and other top officials were en route to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev when the incident occurred; the state of Raisi’s condition remains undisclosed.
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi experienced a hard landing on Sunday, May 19, 2024, as reported by Iranian state media. The incident took place near Jolfa, a city located on the border with Azerbaijan, approximately 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of Tehran. The weather conditions at the time included heavy rain, fog, and some wind, which have been cited as factors hampering rescue efforts. “The harsh weather conditions and heavy fog have made it difficult for the rescue teams to reach the accident site,“ state TV said in an on-screen news alert.
President Raisi was accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and the governor of East Azerbaijan province. According to the state-run IRNA news agency, a local government official initially described the event as a “crash,” although he had not yet arrived at the scene. The state of President Raisi and the accompanying officials remains unknown, as neither IRNA nor state television have provided updates on their conditions. The location of the incident was described as a forested area, adding to the complexity of the rescue operations.
The helicopter was en route to an event marking the inauguration of a dam on the Aras River, a joint project between Iran and Azerbaijan. This visit highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the two nations despite recent tensions, including the 2023 gun attack on Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Tehran and Azerbaijan's diplomatic ties with Israel, which Iran views with hostility.
Iran’s helicopter fleet, primarily dating back to the pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era, faces challenges in maintenance and parts acquisition due to international sanctions. This incident underscores the ongoing issues with Iran's aging aviation infrastructure. President Ebrahim Raisi, 63, is known as a hard-liner and a former head of Iran's judiciary. He is considered a close ally of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a potential successor to the 85-year-old leader. Rescue teams are continuing their efforts to reach the site of the hard landing, but the severe weather conditions remain a significant obstacle.
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