Iranian President Raisi's fatal helicopter crash ruled accidental
We have received the report from the General Staff of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army regarding the helicopter crash involving President Ebrahim Raisi. Military investigators did not find any evidence of sabotage or an explosion. Earlier reports also indicated no evidence of criminal activity on the wreckage.
The helicopter crash occurred in Iran on 19th May at 3:30 PM GMT. Onboard were President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and two military commanders. They were returning from Azerbaijan, where a dam on the Aras River was opened.
The investigators' report indicates that after examining the wreckage and helicopter parts at the crash site, an explosion during the flight was excluded just before it hit the mountainside.
The helicopter's maintenance documentation and the work carried out on the machine were also analyzed. No traces of factors that could have contributed to the crash were found, and according to the investigators, the helicopter was not overloaded either.
No interruptions or cyberattack. Investigation results
The Iranian General Staff issued the first statement five days after the crash. At that time, it was already reported that there were "no signs of gunfire or similar traces" on the wreckage.
Investigators clarified that interruptions in the communication system were excluded. Contact on designated frequencies was lost only 69 seconds before the crash. The possibility of a cyber-attack on the helicopter was also excluded.
The machine crashed into the mountainside and caught fire. Weather conditions, including rain and thick fog, hampered the search efforts.
Who was Ebrahim Raisi?
Ebrahim Raisi was 63 years old. He has been the President of Iran since 2021. He was considered a man with ultra-conservative views. He expressed support for Russia in the war with Ukraine, and his country supplied military drones to Putin.
During his term, tensions with Israel increased. In 2022, when protests broke out after the death of young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody, demonstrators were repressed, and there were executions.
