2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash

Aviation incident in Varzaqan, Iran

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2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash

The helicopter leaving Khudafarin[citation needed][dubious - discuss]

Crash
Date| 19 May 2024; 1 day ago (2024-05-19), ≈ 13:30 IRST (UTC+03:30)
Site| Varzaqan, East Azerbaijan, Iran
Aircraft
Aircraft type| Bell 212[1]
Flight origin| Khudafarin, Iran
Destination| Tabriz, Iran
Passengers| 6
Crew| 3
Missing| 9

On 19 May 2024, a Bell 212 helicopter crashed near Varzaqan, Iran, while en route to Tabriz from Khudafarin.[2] The helicopter was carrying Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, governor of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azerbaijan. The condition of the passengers and the location of the helicopter remain unknown.

The crash took place while Raisi was travelling in Iran's East Azerbaijan province, near the city of Jolfa, on the Azerbaijan–Iran border.[3][4] Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that rescue operations were encountering difficulties due to the dense forest terrain, compounded by adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, fog, and strong winds.[3] Drones, search-and-rescue teams, specially trained dogs, and the Copernicus satellite system are aiding the search.[5][6]

## Background[edit]

Presidents Raisi (left) and Aliyev (right) on the Azerbaijan–Iran border on the day of the crash

On 19 May 2024, President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi was in Azerbaijan to inaugurate the Giz Galasi hydroelectric complex with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.[7] The complex is the third collaborative project between Iran and Azerbaijan on the Aras River.[3][8] A day before the crash, the Iran Meteorological Organization issued an orange weather warning for the region.[9]

## Crash[edit]

Following the Giz Galasi event, a helicopter carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, and Supreme Leader Representative in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem[10] departed with two other helicopters in a convoy to Tabriz.[2] At approximately 13:30 IRST (UTC+03:30), the helicopter carrying Raisi crashed[2] shortly after some passengers made an emergency call. Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian and Housing and Transportation Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash, who were travelling in the other two helicopters, subsequently arrived safely.[11]

Conflicting reports said that the helicopter crashed either near Jolfa, or east of the village of Uzi.[12] The helicopter's exact location and condition have not been disclosed.[3] The Islamic Republic News Agency, citing residents who heard sounds, said it crashed in the Dizmar Forest region, between Uzi and Pir Davood, near the northern Varzaqan area of East Azerbaijan province.[2]

By 21:46, Iranian media reported the helicopter was located.[13] The Red Crescent denied the reports.[14] The Economist reported, after the helicopter was still missing for almost half a day, that "It seems increasingly likely that Iran’s president is dead, along with the foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian," noting that the site of crash was in a remote area and that overnight temperatures were in the low single digits.[15]

## Recovery efforts[edit]

The crash was described as a hard landing by Iranian media. Major-General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, ordered all its branches to deploy its full resources toward rescue operations.[11] Heavy fog affected search-and-rescue operations in Varzaqan.[5] According to The Guardian, search-and-rescue teams were expected to reach the site of the crash by 20:00.[16] By 20:39, Iranian forces were near the site of the crash.[17] Forty rescue teams from the Iranian Red Crescent,[11] along with drones, were sent to the area of the crash.[18] According to The Guardian, officials made contact with a passenger and a crew member.[19]

Iran requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Turkey, according to the head of the Turkish disaster management agency AFAD.[20] Turkey also pledged to send 32 rescue personnel and six vehicles.[21]

The Iranian government cancelled a cabinet meeting.[22] Senior officials and members of the Supreme National Security Council travelled to Tabriz.[23]

An anonymous Iranian official told Reuters that rescue teams were struggling to reach the crash site.[24] He said Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian's lives were "at risk following the helicopter crash" and that "while we are still hopeful, information coming from the crash site is very concerning".[24]

## Reactions[edit]

### Domestic[edit]

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in asking the nation for prayer, said that, "The nation doesn't need to be worried or anxious as the administration of the country will not be disrupted at all."[25][26] Prayers for Raisi were held in cities across the country.[2] State-run television aired them and Fars News Agency encouraged them. Videos of people celebrating and launching fireworks began circulating on social media.[26]

The Iranian government cancelled a cabinet meeting.[22] Senior officials and members of the Supreme National Security Council travelled to Tabriz.[23]

### International[edit]

Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, announced that the European Union would activate the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (rapid response satellite mapping) at Iran's request.[27] Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkey and Russia offered search help.[28][29][30]

Well-wishes and offers of support came from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,[31] Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,[32] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,[33] and Foreign Ministries of Afghanistan, Kuwait, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.[34][35]

## See also[edit]

* List of Iranian aviation accidents and incidents
* 2024 in aviation
* List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft
* List of accidents and incidents involving helicopters

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Bell 212: The missing helicopter carrying Iran's president". Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
2. ^ a b c d e 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 19 May 2024.
3. ^ a b c d "Helicopter carrying Iran's president suffers a 'hard landing,' state TV says without further details". AP News. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
4. ^ "Helicopter carrying Iran's president Raisi makes rough landing, says state TV". Reuters. 19 May 2024.
5. ^ a b Norman, Laurence; Faucon, Benoit; and Eqbali, Aresu (20 May 2024). "Iran Says Helicopter Carrying Its President Is Missing After Crash". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
6. ^ "EU activates mapping service to aid search effort". BBC News. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
7. ^ "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.
8. ^ "Qiz-Qalasi Dam symbol of cooperation between Tehran, Baku". Mehr News Agency. 19 May 2024.
9. ^ "روایت خبرنگار تسنیم از منطقه سانحه بالگرد رئیس‌جمهور + فیلم – تسنیم". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
10. ^ "Who was on the missing helicopter?". Al Jazeera Media Network. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
11. ^ a b c 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.
12. ^ Gambrell, Jon (19 May 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iran's president suffers a 'hard landing,' state TV says, and rescue is underway". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
13. ^ "Crashed helicopter found by search teams, state TV reports". The Guardian. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
14. ^ Al-Shamani, Abubakr (19 May 2024). "Red Crescent denies reports helicopter found". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
15. ^ https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/05/19/the-death-of-irans-president-would-spark-a-high-stakes-power-struggle|title=The death of Iran’s president would spark a high-stakes power struggle|publisher=The Economist|date=19 May 2024|accessdate=19 May 2024}}
16. ^ "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.
17. ^ 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.
18. ^ 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.
19. ^ "Iranian official: Contact made with passenger and crew member". The Guardian. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
20. ^ @ragipsoylu (19 May 2024). "Iran requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Turkey, says Turkish disaster management agency AFAD" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
21. ^ "Helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi crashes, prompting massive search operation, local media reports". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
22. ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz. "The Iranian government has canceled a planned cabinet meeting and convened an emergency meeting with the country's crisis management committee, state media reported". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
23. ^ a b Fassihi, Farnaz. "Members of Iran's Supreme National Security Committee and senior officials from the government have traveled to Tabriz, the closest major city to the site of the accident, state media reported". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
24. ^ a b Hafezi, Parisa; Elwelly, Elwely (19 May 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iran's President Raisi crashes, search under way". Reuters. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
25. ^ "Nation doesn't need to be worried or anxious as administration of country will not be disrupted at all". english.khamenei.ir. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
26. ^ a b Badshah, Nadeem; Lowe, Yohannes; Murray, Jessica; Badshah, Nadeem; Murray, Jessica (19 May 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iran's president crashes in mountains, official says – Middle East live". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
27. ^ 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) - via Twitter.
28. ^ "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.
29. ^ 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) - via Twitter.
30. ^ "Russia ready to help: Foreign ministry". Al Jazeera. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
31. ^ Narendra Modi [@narendramodi] (19 May 2024). "Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi's helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
32. ^ Shehbaz Sharif [@CMShehbaz] (19 May 2024). "Heard the distressing news from Iran regarding Hon. President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter. Waiting with great anxiety for good news that all is well. Our prayers and best wishes are with Hon.President Raisi and the entire Iranian nation" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
33. ^ Balkiz, Karya Naz (19 May 2024). "Türkiye monitoring helicopter crash involving Iranian president". TRT World. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
34. ^ "Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses their concern of the Helicopter Crash the President of Iran and its foreign minister were involved in and are closely monitoring the situation".
35. ^ "Governments, officials react to crash of Iranian president's helicopter". Voice of America. 19 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.

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Aviation accidents and incidents in Iran

Before 1970|

* Jask Imperial Airways de Havilland Hercules crash (September 1929)
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1970s|

* Sterling Airways Flight 901 (March 1974)
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1980s|

* Iran Air Flight 291 (January 1980)
* Iranian Air Force C-130 crash (September 1981)
* Kuwait Airways Flight 422 (April 1988)
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1990s|

* Tehran mid-air collision (February 1993)
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2000s|

* Faraz Qeshm Airlines Yak-40 crash (May 2001)
* Iran Air Tours Flight 956 (February 2002)
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* Iran Ilyushin Il-76 crash (February 2003)
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2010s|

* Taban Air Flight 6437 (January 2010)
* Iran Air Flight 277 (January 2011)
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* Iran–U.S. RQ-170 incident (December 2011)
* Sepahan Airlines Flight 5915 (August 2014)
* Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 3704 (February 2018)
* Iran Bombardier Challenger crash (March 2018)
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2020s|

* Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (January 2020)
* Caspian Airlines Flight 6936 (January 2020)
* Varzaqan helicopter crash (May 2024)

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