The final investigation report on the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May has concluded that the primary cause of the incident was adverse weather conditions, particularly thick fog. The report, issued by a high committee charged by Iran’s military with investigating the crash, found no evidence of foul play or sabotage.
According to the report, as revealed by Iran’s state TV, “The main reason of the helicopter crash was complicated weather conditions in the region.” The committee stated that a thick mass of dense fog caused the helicopter carrying Raisi and his companions to collide with a mountain.A preliminary report by Iran’s military in May had already indicated that no evidence of an attack or criminal activity had been found during the initial investigation.
Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner long considered a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border. His death occurred during a tumultuous period for Iran, as the country grappled with escalating tensions with Israel, economic challenges, and complex nuclear negotiations.
The charred wreckage of the helicopter, which also carried Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, was discovered after an overnight search in blizzard conditions. Raisi’s death was later confirmed by Vice President Mohsen Mansouri and on state television.State news agency IRNA reported that the aircraft, a U.S.-made Bell 212 helicopter, slammed into a mountain peak, although the official cause of the crash was not immediately disclosed.
