Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi dies in a helicopter crash
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash. Iranian Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri confirmed the reports Monday morning. Earlier, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent, Pir Hossein Kolivand, also reported Raisi's death. Alongside the president, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian also perished.
5:03 AM EDT, May 20, 2024
Kolivand said that all passengers and crew of President Raisi's helicopter died in the crash.
Reports of the Iranian president's death appeared in Iranian media.
"No signs of life in the crashed presidential helicopter," reported Iranian state television Monday morning. Moments earlier, a representative of the Iranian authorities told Reuters "Unfortunately, we fear that all passengers of President Raisi's helicopter are dead."
He added that the helicopter "completely burned out" during a "hard landing."
Helicopter crash in Iran
The helicopter had a "hard landing" en route from the Azerbaijan border. The last communication with the aircraft was recorded near a copper mine in northwestern Iran.
In addition to Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Malik Rahmati, and Imam from Tabriz Mohammad Ali Al-Hashem were also onboard the helicopter.
Raisi, along with other officials, participated in a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River. The Iranian politician met with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, there.
Raisi, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdollahian, the Governor of East Azerbaijan, and clerics, was then supposed to fly by helicopter to Tazbir.
Iranian media covered scenes from places of worship where Iranians were praying for Raisi. A call for prayer also appeared on the president's official social media profile.
