Helicopter’s exact location is found, Iran state-affiliated media reports
The exact site of the helicopter crash has been found, according to Iranian media outlets.
The head of the Iranian Red Crescent said early Monday local time that searchers were walking toward the helicopter and were about 2 kilometers away, Fars News Media reported.
Student News Network reported that first responders were on their way to the downed helicopter.
Large groups gathered to pray for Raisi following the “crash landing” of his helicopter. Raisi’s condition remains unclear.
No evidence of ‘foul play’ at root of helicopter crash, says Sen. Schumer
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says intelligence authorities have informed him that there is “no evidence of foul play” in the helicopter crash.
“It was very bad, foggy weather, northwest Iran where the copter crashed. So it looks like an accident, but it’s still being fully investigated,” Schumer said. “There’s an ongoing effort to locate the helicopter. They still haven’t done that, and I’ll keep monitoring the situation as it unfolds.”
Schumer made the remark at an unrelated news conference in Manhattan today, just as Iranian state media reported that crews believe they have found the site of the crash.
Iranian state media says exact location of helicopter crash identified
The location of the helicopter crash has been identified, Iranian state media reported.
The commander of the East Azerbaijan Army said that a signal from the helicopter and a cellphone belonging to one of the crew members at the accident site was received “minutes ago.”
“Right now, we are leaving with all the military forces to the area in question and I hope to give good news to the people,” the commander said.
State media video shows heavy fog around site in search for Iranian President Raisi
Video from Iranian state media appears to show heavy fog around the area where crews are reportedly carrying out search-and-rescue efforts after the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi experienced a “hard landing.” Raisi’s condition is unknown.
Contact made with 2 people in crash, Iranian official says
Mohsen Mansouri, Iran’s vice president, said that contact has been established between rescue workers at two people involved in the crash.
He did not specify who rescue workers had been in contact with when making the comments on state television today, but noted that communication was established on “several occasions.”
Rescue workers say they believe they’re approaching scene of accident, state news reports
Hours after the helicopter crash was reported, state news reports that the search-and-rescue operations are approaching the site where they believe the crash occurred.
Tasnim News and Ofogh television, both state news sources, said that Red Crescent workers were in the vicinity of the crash and expected to come across the site soon. Iran’s interior minister previously said that the crews were struggling to reach the remote area of the crash due to heavy fog and bad weather.
A video clip published to Tasnim’s social media purportedly showing the area displayed the low visibility and what sounded like heavy winds as people walked with flashlights. The grainy footage showed the silhouettes of people a few yards away as strong gusts could be heard in the background.
NBC News is not able to independently verify the footage.
Iran’s supreme leader tells citizens to pray for Raisi and delegation
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei released a statement following news of the crash, saying that he hoped God would return Raisi and the officials traveling with him “to the arms of the nation.”
The statement was reported by Nour News, which is closely linked to Iran’s immensely powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“Everyone should pray for the health of this group of servants,” the statement said. “If the people of Iran do not worry, there will be no disruption in the work of the country.”
2 helicopters from Raisi convoy reach their destination safely: state TV
According to Iranian English-language state news agency Press TV, two helicopters from Raisi’s convoy carrying government ministers and officials had reached their destination safely.
Press TV did not add any details about who exactly had landed safely.
Official Instagram for Iranian president asks for prayers
The official Instagram page for Ebrahim Raisi, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, posted a request for prayers today after news that his helicopter made a crash landing.
Raisi’s photo was posted to the account’s “stories” with the words “Khatm Salavat” written across it the large font. The term “Salavat” is referring to an Islamic prayer praising the prophet and the prophet’s family.
The post requested Iranians pray for Raisi’s health as well as the delegation he was traveling with, which included the president’s security detail, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and East Azerbaijan’s governor, Malik Rahmati.
Their conditions are currently unknown.
Iran interior minister says search and rescue teams were delayed by bad weather
Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state television that heavy fog and bad weather delayed the search and rescue teams from being able to reach the site of the crash.
“There have been contacts with [the president’s] companions, but given that the area is mountainous and it is difficult to establish contacts. We hope that the rescue teams will reach the site of the incident sooner and give us more information,” he told IRINN, a state television channel.
He also added that though the area is remote, the rescue work is “under control.”
Azerbaijan’s Aliyev says his prayers are with Raisi
BAKU, Azerbaijan — Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said he was profoundly troubled by news of the Iranian president’s helicopter crash landing after bidding a friendly farewell to Ebrahim Raisi earlier in the day.
“Today, after bidding a friendly farewell to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation crash-landing in Iran,” Aliyev said.
“Our prayers to Allah Almighty are with President Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation. As a neighbor, friend, and brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed.”
