The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces on Thursday released its first report on the cause of the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and members of his entourage.
A senior investigation committee comprising experts and technicians arrived at the scene Monday morning after the crash, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said, citing a report by the General Staff of Iran’s armed forces.
According to the report, the helicopter remained on the predetermined path throughout the route and did not deviate from the flight path.
About a minute and a half before the incident, the pilot of the crashed helicopter contacted two other helicopters that were protecting the President.
No trace of bullets or similar objects were found in the wreckage of the crashed helicopter and it was reported that the helicopter crashed into the mountain and caught fire.
Due to the complexity of the terrain, fog and low temperatures, search and rescue operations continued into the night and throughout the night, the report said.
The report said that no suspicious issue was found in the conversation between the watchtower and the flight crew and more details will be released after further investigation. Further details will be provided after further investigation, the report said.
Raisi and his team were on their way to East Azerbaijan province when the helicopter crashed in a mountainous area on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdullahian and Iran’s Supreme Leader’s representative for East Azerbaijan, Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, were also on board the helicopter.
Raisi was laid to rest on Thursday at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown of Mashhad.
