May 19, 2024
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian are reportedly missing after a helicopter he was travelling in was forced to make a “hard landing” on the border of Azerbaijan, local media reported.
A massive search operation underway involving Red Crescent rescue teams, military personnel, and police has begun but is being hampered due to heavy fog in the region.
Initial repots suggest no one survived the crash and that Raisi and his colleagues died in the tragedy, but there has been no confirmation of this as yet.
Raisi and Amir Abdollahian had earlier met with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on the border following the opening of a much-delayed dam project between the countries.
The governor of East Azerbaijan province was also on board, according to local media reports
Ahmad Alireza Beigi of the Red Cresent: “The rescue and Red Crescent teams searching the area have not yet made contact with the individuals present in the helicopter due to rain and heavy fog. The rescue teams have not yet reached the crash site.”
“Three helicopters were carrying government members and provincial officials. One of them had Minister of Roads and Urban Development Bazerpash and other officials on board, while another had Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian and his companions.”
“Both helicopters carrying Mehrabian and Bazerpash landed safely, but the helicopter carrying the President has crashed.”
“The rescue teams say that due to the heavy rain and thick fog in the area, they have not yet been able to locate the helicopter and reach the site.”
“I have not heard anything about this. I heard on the news that contact has been made with Mr. Al-Hashem, the representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azerbaijan, but the reality is that all contact is currently cut off.”
Looks promising. One shit nugget less? I hope so. Will it change anything in the trash country? Probably not. But, this is still a good development.
They’ll blame Ukraine for shooting it down somehow.
Uh, no. They’ll blame that on their usual suspect. And they may even be right. 50/50, I’d say. 🤔
Dead? That makes me almos sad. 👿
Updated 18:15 . An Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the lives of Iran’s president and foreign minister were “at risk” after the “disaster”, Sky News reported .
Strange, very strange.
Indeed. But if there was any foul play involved, kudos for making it look like an accident! I’m not sure if this was helpful for world peace, but at least it wasn’t screwed up like some other operations. 🤔
KRAKEN reports 9 captured rashists.
A senior izlamonazi has bought the farm? If true, what’s not to like?
There could be some interesting intrigue here. Not many people know that Iran and Azerbaijan are in fact enemies. Iran took Armenia’s side in the Nagorno-Karabakh flare-up.
Well, the bilateral hydroenergy project shows there had been some cooperation between both countries. But this incident can easily increase tensions, that’s for sure. 😈
Air searches halted amid deteriorating weather
Babak Yektaparast, the spokesperson for the emergency services organisation, says aerial searches became untenable shortly after darkness fell.
“Unfortunately, continuing aerial operations was no longer possible due to intense fog across the region,” he said, adding that more ambulances were dispatched.
But the official stressed that air ambulances are standing prepared in Tabriz and Tehran.
“But the official stressed that air ambulances are standing prepared in Tabriz and Tehran.”
Having a hearse ready seems to be a better choice.
Crashed helicopter found by search teams: State television
There are no details as to the conditions of President Raisi and the other officials on board.
Hopefully, the wolves in the area like Raisins.
Red Crescent rejects reports helicopter found
An official with the Iranian Red Crescent who is in the area where search operations are ongoing says “local media” were behind unconfirmed reports that the helicopter had been found.
A state television reporter in the area also quoted Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian as saying there have been no updates.
But the reporter said search and rescue teams are believed to be within two kilometres of an area where there is a possibility of the helicopter being found.
European Commission activates satellite mapping to assist with search
The European Commission is activating satellite mapping service to aid search efforts, following a request for assistance from Iran, the European commissioner for crisis management said.
The European Commission’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service provides mapping products based on satellite imagery.
Crisis management commissioner Janez Lenarcic said on X that the service was activating its “rapid response mapping service in view of the helicopter accident”.
Of course. Europe simply won’t learn from its countless mistakes. It’s the idiot continent number one on this planet.
Russia ready to help: Foreign ministry
“Russia is ready to extend all necessary help in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the reasons for the incident,” RIA quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying.
What russia mean is how can we find a way to blame Ukraine.
Mafia land has a lot of experience in searching for lost aircraft and choppers.
Bell 212: The missing helicopter carrying Iran’s president
Images and videos have confirmed that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions were riding a US-manufactured Bell 212 helicopter.
The two-blade aircraft is a medium-sized helicopter that has a 15-seat capacity, with one pilot and fourteen passengers.
It is unclear how many people are on Raisi’s helicopter, including flight crew and potential security personnel.
Armed forces received signals from crash site:
Report
Signals have been reportedly detected by the armed forces from the helicopter and the mobile phone of a member of the flight crew.
“We are now moving toward the area with all military forces and I hope we can give good news to the people,” Asghar Abbasgholizadeh, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Eastern Azerbaijan, was quoted as saying by Tasnim.
“The area no longer has capacity for more forces.”
“We are now moving toward the area with all military forces and I hope we can give good news to the people,”
The people are praying for the death of this monster. Maybe he burned slowly to a crisp.
Turkey sends mountain rescue teams to Iran: Emergency agency
Turkey is sending 32 mountain rescue specialists to help Iran in the search for the helicopter carrying President Raisi, the government’s emergency aid agency AFAD has said.
The team and 32 vehicles have been deployed from centres in eastern Turkey, said AFAD in a post on X.
It added that Iran had requested the use of a helicopter with night vision.
Maybe they’ll get lost and die there.
IRGC chief commander heads to crash area
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander-in-chief Hossein Salami has arrived at the general area of the crash to help lead search-and-rescue efforts.
A crisis management meeting is in session with top IRGC commanders, ministers, the first vice president and local officials, according to state media
I hope the salami will find a dead raisin.
Turkey’s Erdogan offers Iran support
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he was “profoundly saddened” at the news of the helicopter accident involving Iran’s President Raisi.
“We are following the incident closely, are in contact and in coordination with the Iranian authorities, and we are ready to provide all necessary support,” Erdogan posted on X.