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2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash

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2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash
A helicopter flying above the crash site
Crash
Date19 May 2024; 5 months ago (2024-05-19), c. 13:30 IRST (UTC+03:30)
SiteVarzaqan, East Azerbaijan, Iran
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBell 212[1]
Flight originKhudafarin, Iran
DestinationTabriz, Iran
Passengers6
Crew3
Fatalities9
Survivors0

On 19 May 2024, a Bell 212 helicopter crashed near Varzaqan, Iran, while en route to Tabriz from Khudafarin.[2] The helicopter was carrying the president of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, governor-general of East Azerbaijan province Malek Rahmati, and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azerbaijan. All nine passengers and crew were killed, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.[3][4]

The crash took place while Raisi was travelling in Iran's East Azerbaijan, near the city of Jolfa, on the Azerbaijan–Iran border.[5][6] Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported that rescue operations encountered difficulties due to the dense forest terrain, compounded by adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, fog, and strong winds.[5] Drones, search-and-rescue teams, specially trained dogs, and the Copernicus satellite system aided the search.[7][8]

Background

Presidents Raisi (left) and Aliyev (right) on the Azerbaijan–Iran border on the day of the crash

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.[9] The complex is the third collaborative project between Iran and Azerbaijan on the Aras River.[5][10] A day before the crash, the Iran Meteorological Organization issued an orange weather warning for the region.[11]

Helicopter incident

Crash

Following the Giz Galasi event, a helicopter carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor-General of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, and Supreme Leader Representative in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem[12] 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 travelling in the other two helicopters, subsequently arrived safely.[13]

Conflicting reports said that the helicopter crashed either near Jolfa, or east of the village of Uzi.[5] The helicopter's exact location and condition have not been disclosed.[5] The Islamic Republic News Agency, citing residents who heard sounds, said it crashed in the Dizmar Forest region, between Uzi and Pir Davood, near the northern Varzaqan area of East Azerbaijan province.[2]

Recovery efforts

IRIB described the crash as a hard landing. 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.[13] Heavy fog affected search-and-rescue operations in Varzaqan.[7] According to The Guardian, search-and-rescue teams were expected to reach the site of the crash by 20:00.[14] By 20:39, Iranian forces were near the site of the crash.[15] Forty rescue teams from the Iranian Red Crescent Society,[13] along with drones, were sent to the area of the crash.[16] According to The Guardian, officials made contact with a passenger and a crew member.[17]

Iran requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Turkey, according to the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency.[18] Turkey also pledged thirty-two rescue personnel and six vehicles.[19]

The Iranian government cancelled a cabinet meeting.[20] Senior officials and members of the Supreme National Security Council travelled to Tabriz.[21]

Discovery

Late on 19 May, IRIB reported the helicopter had been found.[22] Iranian state television later reported, when the helicopter had been confirmed to have been found, that there was "no sign of life" at the crash scene[23] and that the helicopter had been completely burned in the crash.[24]

Aftermath

Iran's presidential line of succession begins with Mohammad Mokhber, the first of Iran's vice presidents. If power is transferred to the vice president in this way, Iranian law states that a new presidential election must be called within six months.[25]

Reactions

Domestic

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in asking the nation for prayer, said that, "The nation doesn't need to be worried or anxious as the administration of the country will not be disrupted at all."[26][27] Prayers for Raisi were held in cities across the country.[2] State-run television aired them and Fars News Agency encouraged them. Videos of people celebrating and launching fireworks began circulating on social media.[27] The government cancelled a cabinet meeting and instead convened an emergency meeting.[20] Senior officials of the Supreme National Security Council travelled to Tabriz.[21]

International

Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, announced that the European Union would activate the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (rapid response satellite mapping) at Iran's request.[28] Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkey and Russia offered search help.[29][30][31]

During the search efforts, well-wishes and offers of support came from Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi,[32] Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif,[33] President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,[34] President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu,[35] and the foreign ministries of Afghanistan, Kuwait, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.[36][37]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bell 212: The missing helicopter carrying Iran's president". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  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. ^ "'No signs of helicopter's occupants being alive': Red Crescent". Al Jazeera. 20 May 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  4. ^ Taylor, Jerome (20 May 2024). "Drone footage shows wreckage of crashed helicopter". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e Gambrell, Jon (19 May 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iran's president suffers a 'hard landing,' state TV says without further details". AP News. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  6. ^ Hafezi, Parisa; Elwelly, Elwely (19 May 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iran's president Raisi makes rough landing, says state TV". Reuters.
  7. ^ a b Norman, Laurence; Faucon, Benoit; and Eqbali, Aresu (20 May 2024). "Iran Says Helicopter Carrying Its President Is Missing After Crash". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  8. ^ "EU activates mapping service to aid search effort". BBC News. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  9. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Qiz-Qalasi Dam symbol of cooperation between Tehran, Baku". Mehr News Agency. 19 May 2024.
  11. ^ "روایت خبرنگار تسنیم از منطقه سانحه بالگرد رئیس‌جمهور + فیلم" [Tasnim reporter's narration from the area of the president's helicopter accident + video]. Tasnim News Agency (in Persian). Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  12. ^ Regencia, Ted (19 May 2024). "Who was on the missing helicopter?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Makoii, Akhtar; Abrahams, Jessica; Smith, Benedict; and Zagon, Chanel (19 May 2024). "Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi 'missing' after helicopter makes hard landing". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  16. ^ Radford, Antoinette; Andone, Dakin; Shen, Michelle; Almasy, Steve; and Meyer, Matt (19 May 2024). "Live updates: Iranian President Raisi involved in helicopter crash". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ @ragipsoylu (19 May 2024). "Iran requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Turkey, says Turkish disaster management agency AFAD" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Moshtaghian, Artemis; Qiblawi, Tamara; Mando, Nechirvan; Rahimi, Rosa; Brennan, Eve; Pourahmadi, Adam; Stapleton, AnneClaire; Tanno, Sophie (19 May 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi crashes, prompting massive search operation, local media reports". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  20. ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz (19 May 2024). "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.
  21. ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz (19 May 2024). "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.
  22. ^ "Crashed helicopter found by search teams, state TV reports". The Guardian. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  23. ^ Gambrell, Jon (20 May 2024). "'No sign of life' at crash site of helicopter carrying Iran's president, others". AP News. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  24. ^ Wintour, Patrick (20 May 2024). "'No sign of life' at crash site, state TV says". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  25. ^ Fassihi, Farnaz (20 May 2024). "President Raisi Is Dead, Iranian Media Reports". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Nation doesn't need to be worried or anxious as administration of country will not be disrupted at all". english.khamenei.ir. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  27. ^ a b Badshah, Nadeem; Lowe, Yohannes; Murray, Jessica; Badshah, Nadeem; Murray, Jessica (19 May 2024). "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 19 May 2024.
  28. ^ Janez Lenarčič [@JanezLenarcic] (19 May 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). Retrieved 19 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "Turkey's Erdogan offers Iran 'all necessary support' in Raisi search". Al Arabiya. AFP. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  30. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Armenia [@MFAofArmenia] (19 May 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). Retrieved 19 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ "Russia ready to help: Foreign ministry". Al Jazeera. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  32. ^ Narendra Modi [@narendramodi] (19 May 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). Retrieved 19 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ Shehbaz Sharif [@CMShehbaz] (19 May 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). Retrieved 19 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ Balkiz, Karya Naz (19 May 2024). "Türkiye monitoring helicopter crash involving Iranian president". TRT World. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  35. ^ "The President expresses concern over helicopter incident involving the President of Iran and senior delegation". The President's Office. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  36. ^ @mofa_afg (19 May 2024). "وزارت امور خارجۀ امارت اسلامی افغانستان گزارش‌هایی پیرآمون سرنوشت هلیکوپتر جلالتمآب ابراهیم رئیسی رئیس‌جمهوری اسلامی ایران" [The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is following the fate of the helicopter of His Excellency Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran] (Tweet) (in Persian). Retrieved 19 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  37. ^ "Governments, officials react to crash of Iranian president's helicopter". Voice of America. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.

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