According to Xinhua News Agency Express, Iranian state television reported on the 20th that the wreckage of the helicopter in which Iranian President Raisi was traveling has been found, and no signs of life have been found so far.
Pictures of the accident scene. Source: CCTV News
In the event of an accident, the list is announced
On the 19th local time, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Wahidi confirmed to Iranian state television that a helicopter in President Raisi's helicopter fleet had a "hard landing accident" on the same day.
After the accident, Iran has sent 20 rescue teams and drones to the accident area, but due to the inconvenient transportation, complex terrain and foggy weather in the area, the rescue work has been hindered to a certain extent.
According to Iran's official news agency, about an hour after rescuers received a report about the "accident with the helicopter of Iranian President Raisi's team", the rescue team arrived at the relevant location and began a search.
Photograph of the accident in the helicopter in which Iranian President Raisi was travelling. Source: CCTV News
In the early morning of the 20th local time, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the accident of the helicopter in which President Raisi was riding, saying that on the afternoon of the 19th local time, a helicopter carrying the Iranian president, foreign minister and other entourages had an accident in the Varzagan area of East Azerbaijan Province. Despite the bad weather and environment, the rescue team continued to actively search the area where the accident occurred.
Iran is grateful to the Government and international organizations for their humanitarian sentiment and solidarity with the Government and people of Iran, as well as for their help and assistance in the search and rescue operations.
According to an earlier report by Iranian state television, preliminary reports show that a helicopter in which Raisi was flying "had a hard landing accident" in the country's East Azerbaijan province on the 19th. Raisi and his entourage have a total of three helicopters, and the other two have now arrived safely. Raisi's helicopter was accompanied by Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian and the governor of East Azerbaijan Province.
According to a report by the global network, CNN quoted Iran's Tasnim News Agency on the 20th as saying that the helicopter carried a total of 9 people, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian and East Azerbaijan Governor Malik Rahmati in addition to Iranian President Raisi. In addition, there is an imam, as well as 5 crew members and security personnel.
Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi Data map Source: Visual China
Iranian state television said Raisi arrived in East Azerbaijan Province in the early morning of the 19th to unveil a dam with Azerbaijani President Aliyev. The dam is the third dam built by the two countries on the Araks River. On the way back, the accident occurred near the city of Chorfa, on the border with Azerbaijan, about 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.
Many countries have spoken out and helped
According to CCTV International News, after the accident of the helicopter in which the Iranian president was traveling, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and other countries have expressed their willingness to help, and some of them have sent search and rescue forces to Iran.
On May 19, local time, Iraqi government spokesman Basim Awadi issued a statement saying that Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Sudani had instructed the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society and other relevant agencies to assist Iran in searching for the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and his team.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement on May 19 local time, saying that the Turkish side is concerned about the Iranian helicopter accident and hopes that Iranian President Raisi, Foreign Minister Abdollahian and other Iranian officials are safe and healthy. The Turkish side has taken action in an effort to provide various types of support for the search and rescue operation.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense said on the same day that at the request of the Iranian authorities through the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the Turkish Ministry of Defense sent a "Ranger" drone and a "Cougar" helicopter with night vision to participate in the search and rescue operation of the helicopter accident of the Iranian president and his team.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on the 19th that Turkey is closely following the progress of the Iranian helicopter accident, is maintaining communication with the Iranian authorities, and is ready to provide assistance if necessary.
The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Agency announced on the same day that at the request of the Iranian side, Turkey has sent a night-vision search and rescue helicopter to the area of the Iranian helicopter accident to assist in the rescue, in addition, 32 search and rescue mountaineers and motor vehicles from Turkey's Van Province and Erzurum have also set off for the relevant areas.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations released a message on the 20th local time saying that according to the order issued by Russian President Putin to the Minister of Emergency Situations Kulenkov, at the request of the Iranian side, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations will send rescuers to assist in the search and rescue of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi.
According to the information previously released by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, professional equipment is currently being loaded at Zhukovsky Airport, and a team of 47 rescuers will go to Iran with the necessary equipment and vehicles, as well as a BO-105 helicopter.
On May 20, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the "hard landing" of Iranian President Raisi in a helicopter.
The Chinese side is deeply concerned about the "hard landing" incident of President Raisi flying by helicopter and wishes President Raisi and his crew safe and sound. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide all necessary support and assistance to the Iranian side in its rescue work.
The environment is harsh, and the search and rescue is difficult
Turkey's Anadolu news agency previously reported that the "Ranger" drone sent by Turkey to Iran identified the heat source, most likely the location of the helicopter accident, and provided the Iranian side with the exact coordinates.
Source: CCTV News
Iran's official news agency published a picture of the coordinates of the heat source, showing that the area is located in a mountainous area, about 3 kilometers from a village called Tavil.
In the early morning of the 20th local time, the Iranian Red Crescent Emergency Management Command Center issued a relevant announcement on the accident of the helicopter in which Iranian President Raisi was riding, disclosing the latest search and rescue measures.
According to the announcement, Red Crescent rescue teams are heading to the site of a possible accident based on two heat source locations detected by Turkish drones in the Iranian village of Tavil. A total of 73 rescue teams are currently involved in the search and rescue of the accident helicopter, of which 23 rescue teams equipped with specialized equipment have been dispatched from the capital Tehran and neighboring provinces.
The announcement pointed out that the area where the accident occurred was foggy, rainy, low visibility and poor environment, and rescue work was still ongoing.
Source: CCTV News
On the 20th local time, the Iranian rescue team used drones to detect the helicopter accident site. Rescuers said that the propellers of the helicopter, as well as the cockpit, were burned out, and the temperature could not be detected by rescuers through thermal imaging.
According to the latest news from Iranian state television on the 20th, through the search of the accident area, there is no sign of survival.
On the 19th local time, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Ali Ali said, I would like to point out a disturbing incident that happened to the honorable president and his companions this evening. We wish our dear President and his companions a safe return. But our dear people, whether you are here now, or whether you will hear me later, please ensure that the work of the country is not interrupted.
Khamenei said that after the accident, various departments in Iran have been working intensively and busily, and all affairs in Iran are proceeding normally.
According to Iranian media reports, after the accident, Iran's First Vice President Muhber convened a cabinet meeting to determine that Vice President Mansoori and the Minister of Health would go to the scene of the accident, and at the same time mobilize all forces to follow up on the progress of the incident.
Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, the 13th president of Iran, was born in December 1960 in the Shiite holy city of Mashhad, Iran, and served as Iran's Attorney General, Chairman of the largest charitable foundation, and Attorney General of Iran. In August 2021, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei officially appointed Raisi as Iran's new president.