Media reports and public statements from political figures

Helicopter Carrying Iranian President Raisi Makes Hard Landing, Massive Rescue Operation Underway

May 19, 2024, 01:56 PM

A Mi-171 helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other high-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the Governor of East Azerbaijan, made a hard landing in the East Azerbaijan region of Iran. The incident occurred due to poor weather conditions, including dense fog and heavy rain. Rescue teams, including the Iranian Red Crescent and military forces, have been dispatched to the area and are currently engaged in a large-scale search and rescue operation. The exact location of the helicopter has been determined to be near the village of Uzi in the forests of Arsbaran, close to the Sangun copper mine. Despite the challenging weather conditions, rescuers have reached the general area of the incident. Initial reports indicate that President Raisi and the other officials on board survived the landing and continued their journey to Tabriz by car.