Varzaqan helicopter crash

On 19 May 2024, a Bell 212 helicopter crashed near Varzaqan, Iran, while en route to Tabriz from Khudafarin. 

The helicopter was carrying the president of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, governor-general of East Azerbaijan province Malek Rahmati, and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azerbaijan. All nine passengers and crew were killed, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The crash took place while Raisi was travelling in Iran's East Azerbaijan, near the city of Jolfa, on the Azerbaijan–Iran border. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported that rescue operations encountered difficulties due to the dense forest terrain, compounded by adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, fog, and strong winds. Drones, search-and-rescue teams, specially trained dogs, and the Copernicus satellite system aided the search.

Background

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. The complex is the third collaborative project between Iran and Azerbaijan on the Aras River. A day before the crash, the Iran Meteorological Organization issued an orange weather warning for the region.

Helicopter incident

Following the Giz Galasi event, a helicopter carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor-General of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, and Supreme Leader Representative in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem departed with two other helicopters in a convoy to Tabriz. At approximately 13:30 IRST (UTC+03:30), the helicopter carrying Raisi crashed 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.

Conflicting reports said that the helicopter crashed either near Jolfa, or east of the village of Uzi. The helicopter's exact location and condition have not been disclosed. 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.

IRIB described the crash as a hard landing. 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. Heavy fog affected search-and-rescue operations in Varzaqan. According to The Guardian, search-and-rescue teams were expected to reach the site of the crash by 20:00. By 20:39, Iranian forces were near the site of the crash. Forty rescue teams from the Iranian Red Crescent Society, along with drones, were sent to the area of the crash. According to The Guardian, officials made contact with a passenger and a crew member.

Iran requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Turkey, according to the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency. Turkey also pledged thirty-two rescue personnel and six vehicles. Coordinates from a Turkish Bayraktar Akıncı drone showed the crash site being located on a steep mountain slope 20 kilometers south of the Azerbaijan-Iran border.

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

Late on 19 May, IRIB reported the helicopter had been found. It later reported, when the helicopter had been confirmed to have been found, that there was "no sign of life" at the crash scene, and that the helicopter had been completely burned in the crash, with the exception of its tail.

Aftermath

Raisi was the second President of Iran to have died in office, following Mohammad-Ali Rajai, who died in a bombing in 1981. Iran's presidential line of succession begins with Mohammad Mokhber, the first of Iran's vice presidents. If power is transferred to the vice president in this way, Iranian law states that a new presidential election must be called within six months. On 20 May, the Iranian cabinet said that the government will continue to operate “without the slightest disruption”.

Reactions

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." Prayers for Raisi were held in cities across the country, which were aired by state-run television and encouraged by the Fars News Agency. Videos of people celebrating and launching fireworks began circulating on social media. The government cancelled a cabinet meeting and instead convened an emergency meeting. Senior officials of the Supreme National Security Council travelled to Tabriz.

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. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkey and Russia offered search help.

During the search efforts, well-wishes and offers of support came from Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the foreign ministries of Afghanistan, Kuwait, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro expressed his condolences following Raisi's death, writing that he was an "unconditional friend" of Venezuela.