Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s Helicopter ‘Crashes During Landing’ in Varzaqan Region: State Media

A helicopter carrying Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials crashed while landing in the mountainous Varzaqan region on Sunday, according to state media IRNA. The weather was bad at the time. Search and rescue teams are working, but there is no news yet about the president’s condition.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and others were also on board the convoy, which included three helicopters. The other two helicopters landed safely.

The accident happened when President Raisi was returning from a visit to East Azerbaijan province, where he inaugurated a dam project with Azeri President Ilham Aliev at the border of the two countries. State TV reported that bad weather and heavy fog are making it hard for rescue teams to reach the crash site.

Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), told Tasnim news agency that “40 rapid response teams from the IRCS are currently searching the area where President Raisi’s helicopter crashed.”

Kolivand mentioned that “the weather is very bad, and the terrain is hard to navigate, but we are doing everything we can.” He added, “We have used drones and aerial measures, but due to the poor weather, aerial searches are not possible. The area is rugged and mountainous.”

“We have also sent additional forces from nearby provinces to ensure more help is available on-site,” he said.

Hopeful, But Crash Site News is Worrying

An Iranian official told Reuters that the helicopter carrying President Raisi and others crashed while flying over mountains.

The official said their lives are “at risk after the helicopter crash.”

“We are still hopeful, but the news from the crash site is very worrying,” the official added, speaking anonymously.

The chief of staff of Iran’s army has ordered all army and Revolutionary Guard resources to help with the search and rescue operations.

A local reporter told state TV, “It is dark and raining, but the search continues. Rescue teams have reached the area, but the rain has made the ground muddy, making the search difficult.”

Earlier, state TV stopped its regular programs to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country.

The semi-official Fars news agency asked Iranians to pray for Rais’i after hearing about the crash.