ALBAWABA - Iranian media said that a chopper carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had a "hard landing" in East Azarbaijan Province.
The catastrophe occurred between the Songun Mine and the Dismal Forest, known for its steep terrain, dense forests, and bad weather. Due to these conditions, rescuers are having trouble reaching the accident site.
After the inauguration of the Iranian-Azerbaijani "Giz Qala-si" dam on the border river Aras, President Raisi was helicoptered back to Tehran. President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan attended. In addition to President Raisi, the plane carried Tabriz Imam Ayatollah Al-Hashem, East Azarbaijan Governor Malik Rahmati, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and others.
Three helicopters, including the 600-kilometer-range MI 171, carried the president and his entourage. A "hard" landing and emergency were reported Sunday afternoon. After the crash, communication with a president buddy gave hope that everyone on board were okay.
Some Iranian media have called it a "hard landing" and other things. Reuters reported that an anonymous Iranian official said the president and foreign minister's lives were in danger after the chopper crash.
One hour after the incident was reported, a search and rescue team arrived, signaling rescue attempts began. Twenty rescue teams and drones were dispatched. Mountain rescue crews and six police dog units also responded. The Iranian Chief of Staff has ordered the Revolutionary Guard, army, and police to utilize all resources to find and rescue the helicopter and its passengers.
It is not yet known to which organization the helicopter carrying the president belongs, i.e., which state body or reference, whether military, security, or even civilian.
News channels have reported the "hard landing" of Raisi's helicopter amidst foggy weather. It is not yet clear whether the term "hard landing" was used instead of "crash."
A government-affiliated news agency denied the crash, stating that the helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing and that Raisi is on his way to Tabriz. No other media outlets, including radio and television, have confirmed this agency's report, making conflicting information more prevalent than clear, definitive news.
