2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash

41 languages
 Article
 Talk
 Read
 View source
 View history

Tools

















Coordinates: 38°43′8″N 46°39′17″E

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash

6-9207, the helicopter involved in the crash, leaving the Giz Galasi
Dam on the day of the accident

Accident

Date 19 May 2024

 Summary Crashed after loss of visual contact with escort

Site near Uzi, East Azerbaijan, Iran

38°43′8″N 46°39′17″E

Aircraft

Aircraft type Bell 212[1][2][3][4][5]

Operator Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

Registration 6-9207[5]

Flight origin Giz Galasi Dam, Azerbaijan–Iran border[4]

Destination Tabriz, Iran[4]

Occupants 8[3]

Passengers 5

Crew 3

Fatalities 8[3]

Survivors 0

On 19 May 2024, an Iranian Air Force helicopter crashed near the village of Uzi, East
Azerbaijan, Iran, killing President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-
Abdollahian, Governor-General of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, representative of
the supreme leader in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the head of the
president's security team, and three flight crew.[6] It was en route in a convoy of three
from the Giz Galasi Dam to Tabriz.[4]
Background
Presidents Raisi (left) and Aliyev (right) on the Azerbaijan–Iran border, hours before the
crash
The helicopter involved was a Bell 212[1][2][5] with Islamic Republic of Iran Air
Force (IRIAF) registration number 6-9207.[5] Iran purchased the helicopter in the early
2000s.[3] Due to international sanctions, Iranian aircraft face parts shortages, and often
fly without safety checks.[7][3] Former presidents Abolhassan Banisadr (served 1980–
1981) and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (served 2005–2013) were both involved in helicopter
crashes during their terms in office, but survived.[8]
A day before the crash, the Iran Meteorological Organization issued an orange weather
warning (severe weather that may cause damage or accidents) for the region.[9]
Crash
On 19 May, Raisi met President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the Giz Galasi
hydroelectric complex along their countries' borders to inaugurate it and to commission
the Khoda Afarin hydroelectric complex.[10][11] Following the meeting, Raisi, Amir-
Abdollahian, Rahmati, Ale-Hashem, and Raisi's head of security, Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Mohammad Mehdi Mousavi, departed
for Tabriz by helicopter to inaugurate a project at an oil refinery.[4] The helicopter was
part of a convoy of three helicopters and was crewed by Iranian Air Force pilots Colonel
Taher Mostafavi and Colonel Mohsen Daryanush and flight technician Major Behrouz
Qadimi.[4][6][a] A total of eight people were aboard the helicopter.[3][b]
At around 13:30 IRST (UTC+3:30), the helicopter crashed approximately 2 kilometres
(1.2 mi) south-west of the village of Uzi,[14][7][15] in the Dizmar Forest region, a wildlife
corridor in Varzaqan County, East Azerbaijan province.[16][17][c]
The head of the President's Office, Gholam-Hossein Esmaeili, was in one of the other
helicopters. He stated that the helicopters took off at around 13:00. The weather was
normal at the start and during most of the flight. Forty-five minutes into the flight, the
pilot of Raisi's helicopter, who was in charge of the convoy, ordered other helicopters to
increase altitude to avoid a nearby cloud. After 30 seconds of flying over the cloud, the
pilot of Esmaeili's helicopter noticed that Raisi's helicopter, which was flying between
the two others, had disappeared. The pilot returned to search for Raisi's helicopter and
made a few circles, but was unable to contact it via radio and could not descend
because of the cloud, so he landed at the nearby Sungun copper mine 30 seconds
later.[19][20] The pilots then called the phone of Captain Mostafavi, who was in charge of
Raisi's helicopter, but Ale-Hashem answered, who said the helicopter had crashed into
a valley. Esmaeili himself made a second call and spoke to Ale-Hashem,[19] who told
him: "I don't feel good, I don't know what happened, I don't know where I am, I'm under
trees, I don't know, I don't see anyone, I'm alone." They took an ambulance with
medical personnel and drove to the site, speaking several times to Ale-Hashem, who
was answering the calls for about three hours.[20] Ale-Hashem died before the rescuers
could arrive.[19]
Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian and Housing and Transportation Minister Mehrdad
Bazrpash, who were travelling in the other two helicopters [clarification needed], arrived safely in
Tabriz[21][22] after their aircraft made unsuccessful searches for the third helicopter for
fifteen to twenty minutes after losing contact with it.[4]
Recovery
A Mehr News Agency journalist reporting from the crash siteDuration: 17
seconds.0:17Rescuers of the Red Crescent transferring one of the corpses from the
wreckage
News of the crash was released at 16:00,[4] with Islamic Republic of Iran
Broadcasting (IRIB) and Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi describing it as a hard
landing caused by bad weather and fog.[21][7] Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of
staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, ordered all its branches to deploy
their full resources for rescue operations.[21] Heavy fog affected search-and-rescue
operations in Varzaqan.[23] Reports indicated that search-and-rescue teams were
expected to reach the site of the crash by 20:00.[24] By 20:39, Iranian forces were near
the site of the crash.[25] Forty rescue teams from the Iranian Red Crescent Society,
[21]
along with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), were sent to the area of the crash.[26]
Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, announced that
the European Union would activate the Copernicus Emergency Management Service,
providing rapid response satellite mapping, by Iran's request,[27][28] drawing criticism from
some European politicians and journalists for appearing sympathetic toward the Iranian
regime.[29][30] Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Qatar, Turkey, and Russia offered to help in the
search.[31][32][33] Russia sent two airplanes, search and rescue helicopters and around 50
personnel to aid in the rescue mission.[34][35] The United States Department of State said
on 20 May that it had turned down a rare request for assistance from the Iranian
government following the crash for largely logistical reasons.[36][37]
Iran requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Turkey, according to the
Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency.[38] Coordinates from a
Turkish Bayraktar Akıncı UAV showed the crash site being located on a steep mountain
slope 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of the Azerbaijan–Iran border.[39][40] The UAV sent by
Turkey was unarmed following a request by Iran.[41] Iran later denied that the Turkish
drone found the site and instead claimed that the site was only discovered after Iranian
drones with Synthetic Aperture radar were recalled from the Indian Ocean to search the
crash site.[42] Iranian media was also critical of Turkey for flying the drone over sensitive
sites and drawing the Turkish flag's crescent and star on its fight path during its return. [43]
A few hours later after the crash, IRIB reported the helicopter had been found, [44] and
that there was "no sign of life" at the crash scene,[3] which was situated at an altitude of
2,200 metres (7,200 ft).[4] Except its tail,[39] the helicopter burned completely following
impact.[45]
On 20 May, search operations concluded with the recovery of the bodies,[46] which were
transported to Tabriz.[4] Many of the bodies were found in a charred condition, but did
not require forensic identification.[47]
Investigation
The Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces assumed responsibility for investigating the
cause of the crash.[48] Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, whose country
includes Iran in its area of responsibility for emergency response, said they had not
found a signal from the helicopter upon hearing news of its crash, which suggested that
the aircraft either did not have its signal system turned on or did not have such a
system.[49] A preliminary report released by the Iranian military on 23 May found that the
helicopter had "caught fire after hitting an elevated area". It also said it had not found
evidence of foul play.[50]
Aftermath

Farewell ceremony to Ebrahim Raisi, Tehran, 22 May

2024
Raisi was the second president of Iran to have died in office, following Mohammad-Ali
Rajai, who was killed in a bombing in 1981.[3] The presidential line of succession begins
with Mohammad Mokhber, the first vice president. On 20 May, the cabinet said that the
government would continue to operate "without the slightest disruption". [39] That same
day, Mokhber was formally designated as acting president by Supreme Leader Ali
Khamenei, while Ali Bagheri was appointed as acting foreign minister.[3] 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.[51] Authorities subsequently set the election
date for 28 June.[52]
While the search was still underway, Khamenei asked the nation for its prayers and
said: "The nation doesn't need to be worried or anxious as the administration of the
country will not be disrupted at all."[53][54] The government cancelled a cabinet meeting and
instead convened an emergency meeting,[55] during which Raisi's chair was left empty
and draped with a black sash.[56] Senior officials of the Supreme National Security
Council travelled to Tabriz.[57]
Funerals
The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance ordered the suspension of cultural events
and venues as well as all activities relating to Cultural Heritage Week, which coincided
with the mourning period, for seven days beginning 20 May.[58] Government offices and
private businesses were ordered to close 22 May to coincide with the funerals for the
victims.[49]
Funerals for the victims began on 21 May in Tabriz; a procession of the remains, carried
on a lorry, was attended by crowds estimated to be in the tens of thousands who were
then addressed by Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi.[59][60]
The remains were then taken to Tehran and transported to Qom before being returned
to Tehran University for another funeral ceremony on 22 May presided by Khamenei
and attended by Mokhber and foreign dignitaries.[48] The dignitaries
included Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who spoke at the event, Afghan Foreign
Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Egyptian
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani,
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani,
Tunisian President Kais Saied, as well as delegates from 60 other countries including
Belarus, China, India, Russia, Serbia, and Turkey.[61][62][63] No representatives
from European Union member states attended the funeral,[61] while apart from
Khamenei, none of Iran's living former presidents (Mohammad Khatami, Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, and Hassan Rouhani) were seen at the event.[63] After the ceremony, the
remains were transported on a semi-truck[63] on a procession to Azadi Square, during
which chants of "Death to America" were heard.[64] Tens of thousands were estimated to
have been in attendance for the funeral service in Tehran,[65][66][58][67] and hundreds of
thousands were estimated to have followed the procession down Tehran's main
boulevard.[63] Attendance at the funeral was noticeably lower than that of IRGC general
Qassem Soleimani in 2020.[63]
Raisi's remains were taken to Birjand on 23 May before being transported to his
hometown in Mashhad, where Raisi was buried the same day at the Imam Reza shrine.
[68][69][70][d]
Turnout for the burial was estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.[68] Amir-
Abdollahian's burial also took place the same day at the Shah Abdol-Azim
Shrine in Ray.[70][61]
Reactions
Domestic
Reactions among Iranians were mixed.[72] Before the confirmation of Raisi's death,
prayers for him were held in cities across the country, which were aired by state-run
television.[73] At the same time, videos of people in Iran setting off celebratory fireworks
began circulating on social media, while others danced, played music, or honked car
horns in solidarity with those celebrating.[74] Images were posted to social media showing
people killed and injured during the crackdown on the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests under
Raisi's presidency.[75] Police in Tehran warned that anyone who appeared publicly happy
about Raisi's death would be prosecuted.[74]
Following confirmation of Raisi's death, Khamenei declared five days of national
mourning.[3] Hundreds gathered in Vali-e-Asr square in mourning for the president.[3] At a
meeting of the Assembly of Experts on 21 May, a flower-ringed portrait of Raisi was
placed on his seat.[48] Former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blamed the United
States for the crash, saying in an interview that the latter's embargo on the sale of
aircraft and aviation parts to Iran "will be recorded in the list of U.S. crimes against the
Iranian people".[3]
Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the exiled dissident People's Mojahedin Organization of
Iran, said that Raisi's legacy was marked by his role in the 1988 executions of Iranian
political prisoners, and predicted this "monumental and irreparable strategic blow to the
mullahs' Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the entire regime" would trigger "a series of
repercussions and crises" within its leadership.[72] Taghi Rahmani, the husband of
detained activist Narges Mohammadi, said Raisi's death would not structurally change
the system.[74] Some in the Iranian diaspora celebrated happily and others took to social
media to express dissatisfaction with Iran's government.[76][77]
Foreign

Turkish flag at half-mast following the declaration of

national mourning, Istanbul, Turkey
During the search efforts, well-wishes or offers of support came from Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev,[78] Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel,[79] Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi,[80] Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu,[81] Pakistani Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif,[82] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,[83] United Nations
Secretary-General António Guterres,[27] the Iraqi government,[27] and the foreign ministries
of Afghanistan,[84] Jordan,[85] Kuwait, Qatar, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.[27]
Following the confirmation of the deaths of Raisi and the other passengers, officials of
many countries and international organizations extended their condolences and
sympathies.[e] Days of mourning were declared in Bangladesh,[144] Cuba,[145] India,
[146]
Lebanon,[147] Pakistan, Sri Lanka,[148] Syria,[149] Tajikistan,[150] Thailand,[151] and Turkey.
[152]
The United Nations Security Council stood for a minute's silence for Raisi.[153]
Several Islamist militant organisations backed by Iran expressed their
condolences. Mohammed al-Houthi, Houthi Yemen's Interior Minister, expressed
condolences to the Iranian people, leadership, and families of the dead.
[154]
Hamas mourned the loss of an "honourable supporter" in a statement.[155] Hamas
official Ismail Haniyeh attended his funeral in Tehran.[156] Hezbollah also mourned Raisi,
describing him as a protector of the Axis of Resistance.[157]
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed hope that a future Iranian government
would "commit itself to the stabilisation and pacification of the region".[86] Lithuanian
Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said he did not feel comfortable sending
condolences to Iran because of its provision of military aid for the Russian invasion of
Ukraine.[158] British Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat said that he "will not
mourn" Raisi, adding that his "regime has murdered thousands at home, and targeted
people here in Britain and across Europe".[159] United States National Security Council
spokesman John Kirby described Raisi as "a man who had a lot of blood on his hands".
[160]

A post on X by European Council President Charles Michel of condolences to Iran was

criticised by members of the European Parliament Charlie Weimers, Nathalie Loiseau,
and Hannah Neumann,[161] and also several Dutch House of Representatives members,
for not mentioning Tehran's human rights abuses.[162] Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja
Fajon drew similar criticism from opposition leaders Matej Tonin, Romana
Tomc and Janez Janša[163] after she expressed condolences to the Iranian people in
a KAN News interview and said it was a time to mourn.[164]
The U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin denied U.S. involvement, stating that "the
United States had no part to play in that crash".[165][166] An Israeli official, who requested
anonymity, provided a similar comment to Reuters, saying "It wasn't us".[167][166] Although
there was no official reaction from the government, Israeli opposition politician Avigdor
Lieberman said it was unlikely to affect Iranian policy toward Israel, adding that "we
won't shed a tear" over Raisi's death.[166][167] Israeli ambassador to the United
Nations Gilad Erdan criticised the United Nations Security Council for holding a minute's
silence out of respect for Raisi on 20 May, calling it a "disgrace".[168]
Amnesty International said that Raisi's death must not deny victims of his human rights
abuses their right to accountability.[169]
On 24 May, clashes broke out between supporters of the Iranian regime and anti-
government protesters during an event to mark Raisi's death in the
suburb Wembley in London, resulting in four injuries and one arrest.[170]
See also
 List of Iranian aviation accidents and incidents
 List of heads of state and government who died in aviation accidents and incidents
Notes
1. ^ The Turkish newspaper Türkiye, citing an Iranian security source, avers that Russian-made
helicopters associated with the Revolutionary Guard Corps usually transport such high officials, and
that the crew in this instance was Army staff. Furthermore the helicopter was supposedly outfitted with
the standard GPS and transponder as well as a continuous beacon.[12]
2. ^ According to other sources, nine people.[13]
3. ^ The altitude of the crash site is 2,205 metres (7,234 ft).[18]
4. ^ Raisi died on Imam Reza's birthday, 11 Dhu al-Qadah (Islamic calendar).[71]
5. ^ Afghan Acting Prime Minister Hasan Akhund,[86] Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune,[87]
[88]
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,[89] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev,[90] Bangladeshi
President Mohammed Shahabuddin[91] and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,[92] Bosnian Presidency
member Željko Komšić,[93] Interim Burkinabè President Ibrahim Traoré,[94] Sultan of Brunei Hassanal
Bolkiah,[95] Chinese President Xi Jinping,[96] Comorian President Azali Assoumani,[97] Congolese
 President Félix Tshisekedi,[98] Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel,[99] Egyptian President Abdel Fattah
al-Sisi,[100] Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki,[101] Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed,[72] European
Council President Charles Michel,[96] EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell,[102] Arab
League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit,[86] African Union Commission President Moussa Faki,
[72]
the French foreign ministry,[103] Gambian President Adama Barrow,[104] Bissau-Guinean
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló,[105] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,[106] Indonesian
President Joko Widodo,[107] Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani,[108] Italian President Sergio
Mattarella,[109] Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi,[86] Jordanian King Abdullah II,
[110]
Kuwaiti Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah,[111] Kenyan President William Ruto,[112] Lao
President Thongloun Sisoulith,[113] Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri,[114] Libyan Prime
Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh,[115] Liswati Prime Minister Russell Dlamini,[116] Malagasy
President Andry Rajoelina,[117] Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,[106] Maldives President
Mohamed Muizzu,[118][119] the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs,[120] Namibian President Nangolo
Mbumba,[121] Nigerian President Bola Tinubu,[122] Nigerien Head of state Abdourahamane Tchiani,
[123]
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un,[124] OPEC secretary general Haitham al-Ghais,[86] Pakistani Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif,[106][125] Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas,[86] Philippine
President Bongbong Marcos,[126] Polish President Andrzej Duda,[127] Portuguese Prime Minister Luís
Montenegro,[128] Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani,[96] Russian President Vladimir Putin,[106] Saudi
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,[129] Sahrawi President Brahim Ghali,
[130]
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye,[131] Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe,
[132]
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam,[133] Somali Government,[134] South African
President Cyril Ramaphosa,[135] Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan,[86] Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad,[136] Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan,[137] the Thai Government,
[138]
Tunisian President Kais Saied,[139] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,[140] UAE
President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,[96] the U.S. Department of State,[141] Pope Francis,
[102]
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro,[142] and Vietnamese Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.[143]

References
1. ^ Jump up to:a b Doyle, Gerry (20 May 2024). "Ebrahim Raisi death: What do we know about the Bell
212 helicopter?". Reuters. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
2. ^ Jump up to:a b Rathbone, John Paul; Pfeifer, Sylvia; Georgiadis, Philip (21 May 2024). "How
sanctions played havoc with Iran's ageing helicopters". Financial Times. Archived from the original on
22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
3. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l Gambrell, Jon (20 May 2024). "Iran's president and foreign minister die in
helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast". AP News. Archived from the original on 20
May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j "Ebrahim Raisi: What we know about deadly Iran helicopter crash". BBC. 20
May 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b c d "Raisi's death: last words on board the aircraft". AvioNews. 23 May
2024. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
6. ^ Jump up to:a b "Who died alongside Iran's President Raisi in the helicopter crash?". Al Jazeera. 20
May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
7. ^ Jump up to:a b c Gambrell, Jon (19 May 2024). "Iran's hard-line president still missing after likely
helicopter crash in foggy, mountainous region". AP News. Archived from the original on 19 May
2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
8. ^ Gambrell, Jon (21 May 2024). "Mourners begin days of funerals for Iran's president and others
killed in helicopter crash". AP. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
9. ^ " ‫ فیلم‬+ ‫[ "روایت خبرنگار تسنیم از منطقه سانحه بالگرد رئیس‌جمهور‬Tasnim 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.
10. ^ "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.
11. ^ "Qiz-Qalasi Dam symbol of cooperation between Tehran, Baku". Mehr News Agency. 19 May 2024.
12. ^ "Sisin ardındaki sis... İran lideri Reisi, iç çekişmeye mi kurban gitti?". Türkiye Gazetesi. 21 May
2024. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
13. ^ "Supreme Leader performs prayers over bodies of president Raisi, companions". IRNA. 22 May
2024. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
14. ^ "CNN geolocates Iran helicopter crash site". CNN. 20 May 2024. Archived from the original on 21
May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
15. ^ " ‫ وزیر خارجه و همراهان‬،‫ شهادت رئیس جمهور‬/‫[ " اخبار حادثه سقوط بالگرد‬News of the collapse incident / testimony
of the President, Foreign Minister and their companions] (in Persian). Mehr News Agency. 20 May
2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
16. ^ 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 22 May 2024.
17. ^ "President Raisi's helicopter crashes in Iran: What we know so far". Al Jazeera. 20 May
2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
18. ^ "Elevation Finder". Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
19. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Official reveals more details of president Raisi's copter crash". IRNA. 21 May
2024. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
20. ^ Jump up to:a b В офисе президента Ирана раскрыли подробности крушения вертолета
Раиси [Iran President's Office reveals details of Raisi's helicopter crash]. IRNA (in Russian). 21 May
2024. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
21. ^ Jump up to:a b c d 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.
22. ^ "What do we know so far about Iranian president's helicopter 'accident'". France 24. 20 May 2024.
Retrieved 20 May 2024.
23. ^ Norman, Laurence; Faucon, Benoit; and Eqbali, Aresu (20 May 2024). "Iranian President, Foreign
Minister Killed in Helicopter Crash". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 19 May
2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
24. ^ "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.
25. ^ 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.
26. ^ 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.
27. ^ Jump up to:a b c d "Reactions to the crash of the Iranian president's helicopter". Reuters. 19 May
2024. Retrieved 22 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. ^ Kamenarič, Kaya (20 May 2024). "Plaz kritik na Lenarčičevo solidarnost z Iranom in zahteva po
izbrisu objave" [An avalanche of criticism on Lenarčič's solidarity with Iran and a demand to delete the
post]. 24UR (in Slovenian). Slovenian Press Agency. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024.
30. ^ Paternoster, Tamsin (20 May 2024). "Scorn and sympathy: EU politicians divided over death of
Iranian President Raisi". Euronews. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 24
May 2024. Independent MEP Rob Roos called the expression of solidarity by the EU "an insult to the
oppressed Iranian people." Swedish Democrat Charlie Weimers also criticised the actions of
Copernicus, saying, "European taxpayer money should in no way be used to support the terrorist
regime in Tehran." Several others, including MEP Assita Kanko from the New Flemish Alliance, said
they were "shocked" by the EU's expressions of solidarity.
31. ^ "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.
32. ^ 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.
33. ^ "Russia ready to help: Foreign ministry". Al Jazeera. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19
May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
34. ^ Russia Sends 50 Professional Mountain Rescuers To Search For Iran's President After Helicopter
Crash. Forbes. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024 –
via YouTube.
35. ^ " ‫ خبرآنالین‬- ‫"اعزام دو فروند هواپیمای پیشرفته و بالگردهای ویژه روسیه به تبریز‬. khabaronline.ir. Archived from the
original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
36. ^ Stewart, Phil; Ali, Idrees; Pamuk, Humeyra; Psaledakis, Daphne; Brunnstrom, David; Mohammed,
Arshad (21 May 2024). Maler, Sandra (ed.). "US says it was 'unable' to provide Iran assistance after
helicopter crash". Reuters.