New Delhi: A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and other key officials crashed in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province on Sunday. Iranian state TV released footage showing President Raisi inside the helicopter moments before the fatal crash. A picture from the video shows Raisi seated in front of the foreign minister, gazing out the window of the doomed chopper.Iran President Raisi was flying from a meeting with Ilham Aliyev in Tehran when the incident occurred.Video footage shows the head of the Islamic Republic on board shortly before the helicopter made a hard landing in mountainous terrain due to foggy conditions. pic.twitter.com/ofWEP0cL2D— Russian Market (@runews) May 19, 2024Tragic incident in east Azerbaijan provinceBoth President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian were confirmed dead after the crash on Sunday. They were reportedly returning from a visit to neighboring Azerbaijan. Following the incident, state television reported that a helicopter in the presidents convoy had met with an accident in East Azerbaijan province.Local media reported that nine individuals were on board the helicopter: President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Governor of Eastern Azerbaijan province Malek Rahmati, Tabrizs Friday prayer Imam Mohammad Ali Alehashem, a pilot, copilot, crew chief, head of security, and another bodyguard.Weather conditions and crash detailsReports indicate that heavy rains, fog, and wind were significant factors contributing to the crash. Some local media also suggested that a hard landing might have caused the tragedy.In the aftermath of the incident, the Iranian cabinet issued a statement assuring the public that the government would continue to function “without the slightest disruption”.About the helicopterThe ill-fated helicopter was a Bell 212, commonly used for police operations, medical transport, troop transport, the energy industry, and firefighting. According to its typecertification documents with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the Bell 212 can carry 15 people, including the crew. Initially developed for the Canadian military in the late 1960s, it is an upgrade of the original UH-1 Iroquois.Next president of IranIn accordance with Article 131 of the Constitution of Iran, if a president dies during their term, the first vice president assumes the role of acting president, pending confirmation by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Currently, Mohammad Mokhber is the first vice president of Iran. Various media reports have indicated that Supreme Leader Khamenei has assigned Mokhber as the interim president.Mokhber now has up to 50 days to collaborate with the heads of the legislative and judicial branches to organize presidential elections.
