Images and videos have confirmed that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions were riding a US-manufactured Bell 212 helicopter, which suffered a “hard landing” in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province on Sunday.
The two-blade aircraft is a medium-sized helicopter that has a 15-seat capacity, with one pilot and 14 passengers.
Iran’s President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were on board the helicopter, among others.
It is unclear how many people were on Raisi’s helicopter, including flight crew and potential security personnel.
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.
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.
However, adverse weather conditions, including heavy fog, were hampering rescue efforts and the helicopter was still missing at press time Sunday evening.
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