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| name = 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash
| name = 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash
| image = Raisi's helicopter leaving Khudafarin (cropped).jpg
| image = Raisi's helicopter leaving Khudafarin (cropped).jpg
| caption = The helicopter involved in the incident leaving Khudafarin{{dubious|File:Raisi's helicopter leaving Khudafarin (cropped).jpg}}
| caption = The helicopter involved in the incident leaving Khudafarin{{cn}}{{dubious|File:Raisi's helicopter leaving Khudafarin (cropped).jpg}}
| occurrence_type = Accident
| occurrence_type = Accident
| date = {{Start date and age|2024|05|19|df=yes}}, ≈ 13:30 [[Iran Standard Time|IRST]] ([[UTC+03:30]])
| date = {{Start date and age|2024|05|19|df=yes}}, ≈ 13:30 [[Iran Standard Time|IRST]] ([[UTC+03:30]])

Revision as of 21:46, 19 May 2024

2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash
The helicopter involved in the incident leaving Khudafarin[citation needed][dubious – discuss]
Accident
Date19 May 2024; 32 days ago (2024-05-19), ≈ 13:30 IRST (UTC+03:30)
SiteVarzaqan, East Azerbaijan, Iran
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBell 212[1]
Flight originKhudafarin, Iran
DestinationTabriz, Iran
PassengersAt least 4
Crew1+
MissingAt least 5

On 19 May 2024, a Bell 212 helicopter crashed near Varzaqan, Iran, while en route to Tabriz from Khudafarin.[2] The helicopter was carrying Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, governor of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, and Supreme Leader representative in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem. The condition of the passengers and the location of the helicopter remain unknown.

The incident took place while Raisi was traveling in Iran's East Azerbaijan province, near the city of Jolfa, situated on the border with Azerbaijan.[3][4] Iranian TV reported that rescue operations were encountering difficulties due to the dense forest terrain, compounded by adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, fog, and strong winds.[3] To aid in the search for the helicopter, drones, search-and-rescue teams, specially trained dogs, and the Copernicus satellite system have been mobilized.[5][6]

Background

Raisi with Aliyev on the Azerbaijan–Iran border prior to the incident, on the day it occurred

On 19 May 2024, President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi was in Azerbaijan to inaugurate the Giz Galasi hydroelectric complex with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.[7] The complex is the third collaborative project between Iran and Azerbaijan on the Aras River.[3][8] A day before the accident, the Iran Meteorological Organization issued an orange weather warning for the region.[9]

Crash

Raisi's helicopter leaving Khudafarin

Following the Giz Galasi event, a helicopter carrying Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, governor of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, and Supreme Leader representative in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem[10] departed with two other helicopters in a convoy to Tabriz.[2] At approximately 13:30 IRST (UTC+03:30), the helicopter carrying Raisi crashed[2] shortly after some passengers made an emergency call. Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian and Housing and Transportation Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash, who were traveling in the other two helicopters, subsequently arrived safely.[11]

Conflicting reports said that the helicopter crashed either near Jolfa, or east of the village of Uzi.[12] The helicopter's exact location and condition have not been disclosed.[3] According to IRNA, based on accounts from residents, the helicopter crashed in the Dizmar Forest region, situated between Uzi and Pir Davood. Inhabitants in the northern Varzaqan area of East Azerbaijan Province reported hearing sounds emanating from the vicinity.[2]

By 21:46, Iranian media reported the helicopter was located.[13] The Red Crescent denied the reports.[14]

Recovery efforts

The incident was described as a hard landing by Iranian media. Major-General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, ordered all its branches to deploy its full resources toward rescue operations.[11] Heavy fog affected search-and-rescue operations in Varzaqan.[5] According to The Guardian, search-and-rescue teams were expected to reach the site of the crash by 20:00.[15] By 20:39, Iranian forces were near the site of the crash.[16] Forty rescue teams from the Iranian Red Crescent,[11] along with drones, were sent to the area of the crash.[17] According to The Guardian, officials made contact with a passenger and a crew member.[18]

Iran requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Turkey, according to the head of the Turkish disaster management agency AFAD.[19] Turkey also pledged to send 32 rescue personnel and six vehicles.[20]

The Iranian government cancelled a cabinet meeting.[21] Senior officials and members of the Supreme National Security Council travelled to Tabriz.[22]

An Iranian official later confirmed to Reuters that rescue teams were struggling to reach the site of the incident.[23] The Iranian official who spoke with Reuters also stated that the lives of both Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian were "at risk following the helicopter crash" and that "while we are still hopeful, information coming from the crash site is very concerning".[23] A local reporter also later reported that despite rescue teams reaching the area near the crash, the search had become difficult due to rain in the area and mud which was created by the rain as well.[23]

Reactions

Domestic

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in asking the nation for prayer, said that "if the people of Iran do not worry, there will be no disruption in the work of the country".[24] Prayers for Raisi were held in cities across the country.[2] State-run television aired prayers for Raisi and Fars News Agency encouraged viewers to pray for Raisi's safety, however videos of people celebrating and even fireworks being launched began circulating on social media.[24]

The Iranian government cancelled a cabinet meeting.[21] Senior officials and members of the Supreme National Security Council travelled to Tabriz.[22]

International

The United States Department of State stated it was aware of the incident. US President Joe Biden was briefed, according to the White House.[25]

Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, announced that the European Union would be activating the Copernicus Emergency Management Service rapid response satellite mapping service at Iran's request.[26] Four of Iran's neighbors—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq and Turkey—as well as Russia, offered assistance for the search.[27][28][29][30]

Well-wishes and offers of support came from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,[31] Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,[32] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,[33] and Foreign Ministries of Afghanistan, Kuwait, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.[34][35]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bell 212: The missing helicopter carrying Iran’s president
  2. ^ a b c d e Fassihi, Farnaz (19 May 2024). "Helicopter Carrying Iran's President Has Crashed, State Media Reports". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Helicopter carrying Iran's president suffers a 'hard landing,' state TV says without further details". AP News. 2024-05-19. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  4. ^ "Helicopter carrying Iran's president Raisi makes rough landing, says state TV". Reuters. 2024-05-19.
  5. ^ a b Raice, Shayndi; Eqbali, Aresu (19 May 2024). "Iran Says Helicopter Carrying Its President Is Missing After 'Difficult Landing'". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  6. ^ "EU activates mapping service to aid search effort". BBC News. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  7. ^ "Ceremony to commission "Khudafarin" hydroelectric complex and inaugurate "Giz Galasi" hydroelectric complex was held with participation of Azerbaijani and Iranian Presidents". Azerbaijan State News Agency. 19 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Qiz-Qalasi Dam symbol of cooperation between Tehran, Baku". Mehr News Agency. 19 May 2024.
  9. ^ "روایت خبرنگار تسنیم از منطقه سانحه بالگرد رئیس‌جمهور + فیلم - تسنیم". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  10. ^ "Who was on the missing helicopter?". Al Jazeera Media Network. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b c Motamedi, Maziar (19 May 2024). "Search under way after helicopter carrying Iran's president Raisi crashes". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  12. ^ Gambrell, Jon (19 May 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iran's president suffers a 'hard landing,' state TV says, and rescue is underway". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Crashed helicopter found by search teams, state TV reports". The Guardian. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  14. ^ Al-Shamani, Abubakr (19 May 2024). "Red Crescent denies reports helicopter found". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  15. ^ "The dispatched rescue teams will reach the probable coordinates of president Raisi's helicopter within half an hour, state media is reporting". The Guardian. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  16. ^ Makoii, Akhtar; Abrahams, Jessica (2024-05-19). "Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi 'missing' after helicopter makes hard landing". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  17. ^ Antoinette Radford, Dakin Andone and Matt Meyer (2024-05-19). "Live updates: Iranian President Raisi involved in helicopter crash". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  18. ^ "Iranian official: Contact made with passenger and crew member". The Guardian. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  19. ^ @ragipsoylu (May 19, 2024). "Iran requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Turkey, says Turkish disaster management agency AFAD" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi crashes, prompting massive search operation, local media reports". CNN. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  21. ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz. "The Iranian government has canceled a planned cabinet meeting and convened an emergency meeting with the country's crisis management committee, state media reported". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  22. ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz. "Members of Iran's Supreme National Security Committee and senior officials from the government have traveled to Tabriz, the closest major city to the site of the accident, state media reported". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  23. ^ a b c Hafezi, Parisa; Elwelly, Elwely (19 May 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iran's President Raisi crashes, search under way". Reuters. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  24. ^ a b Badshah, Nadeem; Lowe, Yohannes; Murray, Jessica; Badshah, Nadeem; Murray, Jessica (2024-05-19). "Helicopter carrying Iran's president crashes in mountains, official says – Middle East live". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  25. ^ "US comments on reports of accident". Al Jazeera. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  26. ^ Janez Lenarčič [@JanezLenarcic] (May 19, 2024). "Upon Iranian request for assistance we are activating the EU's @CopernicusEMS rapid response 📡 mapping service in view of to the helicopter accident reportedly carrying the President of #Iran and its foreign minister. #EUSolidarity" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ Al-Shamahi, Abubakr; Gadzo, Mersiha (19 May 2024). "Iran helicopter accident live news: President Raisi, FM on missing aircraft". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Turkey's Erdogan offers Iran 'all necessary support' in Raisi search". Al Arabiya. AFP. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  29. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Armenia [@MFAofArmenia] (May 19, 2024). "Shocked by the news coming from #Iran. Our thoughts & prayers are w/President Raisi, Minister @Amirabdolahian & all others reported to be at the site. As rescue operations continue, #Armenia, as a close & friendly neighbor of Iran, is ready to provide all necessary support. @IRIMFA_EN" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "Russia ready to help: Foreign ministry". Al Jazeera. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  31. ^ Narendra Modi [@narendramodi] (May 19, 2024). "Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi's helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. ^ Shehbaz Sharif [@CMShehbaz] (May 19, 2024). "Heard the distressing news from Iran regarding Hon. President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter. Waiting with great anxiety for good news that all is well. Our prayers and best wishes are with Hon.President Raisi and the entire Iranian nation" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ Balkiz, Karya Naz (19 May 2024). "Türkiye monitoring helicopter crash involving Iranian president". TRT World. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses their concern of the Helicopter Crash the President of Iran and its foreign minister were involved in and are closely monitoring the situation".
  35. ^ "Governments, officials react to crash of Iranian president's helicopter". Voice of America. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
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