In this photo released by the Iranian presidential office, President Ebrahim Raisi attends a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev during the inauguration ceremony of the Qiz Qalasi Dam, or Girl’s Castle in Azeri, on the border of Iran and Azerbaijan, Sunday May 1. 19, 2024.
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In this photo released by the Iranian presidential office, President Ebrahim Raisi attends a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev during the inauguration ceremony of the Qiz Qalasi Dam, or Girl’s Castle in Azeri, on the border of Iran and Azerbaijan, Sunday May 1. 19, 2024.
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Iranian state media reports that a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and other senior officials suffered a “hard landing” on Sunday, with no immediate information on casualties.
State media IRNA reported that the plane carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and other senior officials crashed in a mountainous region in northwest Iran as they were returning of an event along the Iranian border with Azerbaijan.
Two of the trip’s three helicopters reportedly reached their destination safely, but crews were still searching for the one carrying Raisi, according to state media.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi reportedly confirmed the “hard landing” of the presidential helicopter and said the search and rescue operation was underway. according to IRNA.
“Various rescue groups are heading towards the site, but due to fog and bad weather, it may take time to reach the area. The work is under control,” Vahidi said.
“There have been contacts with the companions (of the president), but given that the region is mountainous and it is difficult to establish contacts, we hope that the rescue teams will arrive sooner at the scene of the “incident and will give us more information,” he added. .
IRNA said 20 rescue teams, including drones and dogs, were sent to the scene and the Iranian military also deployed troops to assist in the rescue efforts.
The Fars news agency published what it said was video footage rescue teams who had been dispatched to the area of the “hard landing” of the helicopter.
Earlier today, the Iranian government’s X account posted a picture of Raisi sitting next to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the opening of a dam along the border between the two countries.
A post on Raisi’s Instagram page asked his followers to pray for his health and that of his fellow travelers.
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