A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in an accident on Sunday in the western province of East Azerbaijan, state media reported.
Okay.ng learnt that the incident occurred amid poor weather conditions, and a search is currently underway to locate the president and other officials on board.
According to state television, the helicopter suffered a “hard landing” in the Jofa region of East Azerbaijan. Rescue teams are facing challenges in reaching the accident site due to harsh weather conditions and heavy fog.
The president’s convoy consisted of three helicopters, and the other two aircraft reached their destination safely. However, the helicopter carrying President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and local officials, including East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, remains missing.
The accident occurred while President Raisi was visiting the province to inaugurate a dam project with his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, on the border between the two countries. The search operation is ongoing, but the president’s condition and the status of the other officials on board are currently unknown.
This incident raises concerns about the safety of Iran’s aging aircraft fleet, which has been affected by decades of sanctions, making it difficult to purchase new aircraft or obtain parts. The country has experienced similar accidents in the past due to the condition of its military aircraft.
