Watan-Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu revealed a shocking surprise about the helicopter crash that was carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage.
The Turkish minister stated that the signal system in the Iranian president’s helicopter was either turned off or non-existent.
He added that the Ministry of Transport attempted to contribute to the search and rescue operation in cooperation with the Ministries of Defense and Interior, the General Staff, and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.
He continued: “The ministry monitors the signals of all aerial and maritime vehicles in our region,” explaining that the signal system in the Iranian president’s helicopter was either turned off or non-existent.
📷كرسي #الرئيس_الإيراني #ابراهيم_رئيسي فارغاً في اجتماع الحكومة الطارئ صباح اليوم للتباحث بعد وفاته والوفد المرافق بتحطم طائرته الرئاسية . pic.twitter.com/eEl4hB1cpT
— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) May 20, 2024
Death of Raisi and his entourage
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their accompanying delegation died in a helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan Province, on their way back from the opening ceremony of a dam on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan, with the participation of President Aliyev.
On board the helicopter, in addition to the Iranian president and foreign minister, were Tabriz Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Al-Hashem, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, Brigadier General Seyyed Mehdi Mousavi, head of the Iranian president’s protection unit, a Revolutionary Guard member, the pilot, co-pilot, and a technical officer.
Turkish drone locates the wreckage
A Turkish Akıncı drone located the helicopter crash site, participating in the search operation at Iran’s request.
Rescue teams were able to reach the wreckage after efforts lasting 15 hours.
Five days of mourning in Iran
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced five days of national mourning following the death of Raisi and his accompanying delegation.
Preparations for Raisi’s funeral
Preparations are underway for a public funeral ceremony in Tabriz for Raisi and those who perished with him in the helicopter crash.
The bodies are then set to be transported to the capital, Tehran, where it is expected that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will lead the prayer over them, before moving to Mashhad, the late Iranian president’s birthplace.