Seconds: Iran's President's Body Evacuated
Body Allegedly President Raisi Evacuated (Doc: X)
Tehran – The body of Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi was successfully evacuated from the scene of the helicopter crash near Jolfa, a city on the border with the country of Azerbaijan, about 600 kilometers northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran.
According to a journalist's post on the X account, Iranian Red Crescent troops carried one of the bodies, which is believed to be the body of the President of Iran.
"Removal of bodies from the scene of the helicopter (crash) incident involving Iranian president Raisi," wrote the account @SyakhSulaiman, on Monday, May 20 2024.
Body Allegedly President Raisi Evacuated (Doc: X) Photo : account X @ShaykhSulaiman
Previously, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister were officially declared dead when their helicopter crashed while crossing a mountainous area due to thick fog. This was conveyed by an Iranian official.
"After the helicopter was found, there was no sign that the helicopter's occupants were still alive," according to a state TV report.
The incident occurred during President Raisi's return flight to the Iranian city of Tabriz after he and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi Dam on their shared border.
The helicopter carrying President Raisi, and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, as well as other officials, lost contact about 30 minutes into the flight.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Photo : (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
This immediately sparked concern and a massive search and rescue operation.
Initial reports from Iranian state media described the situation as an "accident."
The helicopter carrying President Raisi, and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, as well as other officials, lost contact about 30 minutes into the flight.
Specifications of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter, Bell 412 Turns out to be Made in the US
Bell 412 helicopter.
- The Bell 412 model helicopter carrying the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, had an accident and crashed in Azerbaijan on Sunday (19/05/2024). It seems that the helicopter had a hard landing due to bad weather conditions in the middle of the mountainous region of Azerbaijan.
The Bell 412 is a helicopter made by the United States (US) company, Bell Helicopter Textron in Fort Worth, Texas. This helicopter first flew in August 1979 and went into production the same year.
The Bell 412 model, which is a development of the Bell 212, has quite a large space with a passenger capacity of 13-14 people and is crewed by 1-2 people. This helicopter has a total length of 17.10 meters with a body length of 12.91 meters and a height of 3.48 meters.
The Bell 412 has an empty weight of 3,112 kilograms and a maximum weight of 5,398 kilograms when taking off.
Powered by a single Turboshaft Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Twin-Pac engine which produces 1342kW (1800 hp), the Bell 412 can reach a speed of 246 km/hour with a distance of approximately 709 km.
Referring to these specifications, the Bell 412 Helicopter is a medium utility helicopter, because it is designed to carry out various missions and tasks. Such as: military sector, agency or government, public services and others.
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Bell 412 helicopter.
Iran has a number of equipment and aircraft made by the US, which was an ally of the Shah of Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Deteriorating and hostile relations between Iran and the US, as well as international sanctions imposed after the Islamic Revolution have made it difficult for Tehran to obtain spare parts for US-made equipment, including the Bell 412.
Quoting from The Malta Independent, the helicopter carrying the presidential entourage has a strong history and has been used since before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. However, because Iran's relations with the United States are not good, accompanied by international sanctions, it is difficult for Iran to obtain spare parts for the Bell 412 helicopter.
President Ebrahim Raisi Killed, Putin Sad & Meets Iranian Ambassador, Pakistan Announces Day of Mourning
The helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Iran's foreign minister crashed while returning from East Azerbaijan Province.
– Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the Iranian Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi suffered from a helicopter crash on Sunday, (19/5/2024).
The helicopter carrying Raisi crashed in a forested and mountainous area in northwestern Iran.
The meeting with Putin at 22.00 local time was revealed by Jalali.
"Mr Putin, even though Sunday is a holiday in Russia, held a meeting at 22.00 together with senior Russian defense officials and security forces and after being invited, I attended the meeting as Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Jalali was quoted as saying by the IRNA news agency.
Jalali said a number of officials present were Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov, Secretary of the National Security Council Sergei Shoigu, Chief of the Joint Armed Forces Staff Valery Gerasimov, Minister of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disasters Alexander Korenkov, Special Assistant to the President IgorLevitin, and a senior official at the Federal Security Organization.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Victory Day military parade in downtown Moscow on May 9, 2024. (AFP/MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV)
According to Jalali, Putin was very sad about the news of Raisi's accident.
“Mr Putin first spoke to me and said that they were very saddened by the news of the President of Iran's helicopter crash and would do whatever was necessary to help,” Jalali said.
Jalali said Putin was very worried and upset.
"Be sure to convey my message to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution that we are ready to do whatever is necessary," Putin said as conveyed by Jalali.
Jalali said, during the meeting Putin also announced that Russia had prepared two planes with 50 of the best troops equipped with equipment and trained climbers to carry out the evacuation.
"In addition, two Russian helicopters are also ready to join the rescue operation from Armenia on Sunday morning," said Jalali.
When asked by Putin about the details of the crash and whether a signal from the helicopter had been received, Jalali mentioned the bad weather conditions there.
Pakistan declares day of mourning
Meanwhile, Pakistan declared a day of mourning following Raisi's accident.
In a statement on social media X, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif expressed his deep sorrow and sympathy for the accident.
“Pakistan was pleased to receive President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on a historic visit less than a month ago. They are good friends of Pakistan,” Sharif said.
“Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will be raised at half-mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his colleagues and solidarity with Iran,” he added.
Iran Press reported the bodies of Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian and others were taken to Tabriz City.
The search operation was declared complete.
Meanwhile, the Iranian cabinet held an emergency meeting after Raisi was confirmed dead.