Bad Weather
The final investigation into the helicopter crash that tragically killed former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has concluded that adverse weather conditions were the primary cause of the accident.
The investigation, released by the body tasked with probing the incident, found that the crash was a result of “complex climatic and atmospheric conditions” prevalent in the region during the spring.
On May 19, 2024, the helicopter carrying Raisi, who was 63 years old at the time, along with his entourage, crashed into a fog-covered mountainside in northern Iran.
The crash resulted in the deaths of Raisi and seven others on board, including his foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The accident led to immediate political consequences, including the call for snap elections.
According to the final report, the primary factor contributing to the crash was a “thick mass of dense and rising fog,” which obscured visibility and caused the helicopter to collide with the mountainside.
The special board investigating the crash emphasized that the spring weather conditions in the mountainous region were particularly challenging, exacerbating the situation and leading to the tragic outcome.
In a parallel investigation, Iran’s military reported that no evidence of criminal wrongdoing was found in relation to the crash.
Earlier reports from Fars News Agency suggested that bad weather conditions and the presence of two additional passengers in the helicopter, which was said to be against security protocols, contributed to the crash.
However, the Iranian armed forces swiftly rejected these claims, asserting that the presence of extra passengers and the associated security issues were not accurate or relevant to the cause of the accident.
The investigation’s final report underscores the severity of the weather conditions and their critical role in the crash, dismissing other speculated causes.
The findings have been pivotal in clarifying the circumstances surrounding the accident, which had significant political implications and caused considerable concern within the country.
