Public statement releases from the Office of the President of Iran or major news outlets

Iranian President Raisi and Foreign Minister's Mi-171 Helicopter Makes Hard Landing in Jolfa

May 19, 2024, 01:24 PM

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were involved in a helicopter incident in East Azerbaijan. The Mi-171 helicopter made a hard landing in Jolfa due to adverse weather conditions, including fog and rain. Rescue operations are ongoing, with 16 teams dispatched to locate the helicopter. Initial reports indicate that Raisi and Abdollahian survived the incident and are now traveling by motorcade to Tabriz. The incident occurred after Raisi attended a dam inauguration ceremony with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The site of the incident is approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.