A massive search and rescue mission was initiated, with assistance from the European Union, Russia, and Turkey, before the crash site was found early Monday. On Wednesday, the Iranian military announced that they had utilized domestically produced drones to locate President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter after it crashed in the northwestern mountains.
The Iranian military reported that a drone sent by Turkey was unable to find the crash site, even though it was equipped with night vision technology. “This drone failed to accurately announce the location of the helicopter crash and finally returned to Turkey.”
“Finally, in the early hours of Monday morning, the exact spot of the helicopter crash was discovered by the ground rescue forces and Iranian drones of the armed forces.”
Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, has mandated a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the helicopter crash. The tragic incident not only claimed the life of the late President Ebrahim Raisi but also resulted in the deaths of seven members of his entourage. Among the victims was Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, adding to the significant loss for the nation.
The inquiry aims to uncover the root causes of the crash and prevent such occurrences in the future.
Raisi’s helicopter crashed on a fog-covered mountainside this past Sunday. The incident occurred while the helicopter was en route back to Tabriz following a ceremonial event held near the Azerbaijan border.