Sudden dense fog caused a helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and several other officials earlier this year, according to a final report from the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff.
The “comprehensive investigation” conducted by a team of military and civilian experts examined all aspects of the incident, including the helicopter’s maintenance history, flight path, and weather conditions on the day of the crash.
The main cause of the helicopter crash was determined to be the sudden formation of dense, upward-moving fog in the complex spring climate of the region, leading to the aircraft’s collision with a mountain.
The cause of death has been under investigation for several months. The 19 May crash killed former President Ebrahim Raisi, former foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and several other senior officials. The incident occurred near the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia after a meeting at the border with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
According to the report, all maintenance and repair documents for the helicopter were found to be in compliance with established standards. The flight route from Tabriz to the crash site was determined to be as planned, with no deviations from the established route. Investigators also found and analysed the pilot’s handheld computer (iPad), which confirmed the correct flight path information.
The report stated that weather conditions on the day of the incident were in line with meteorological forecasts. Notably, no emergency messages from the pilot were recorded in the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) or flight data recorder (FDR).
No suspicious findings
Forensic examination of victims’ bodies revealed no suspicious findings, with no signs of sabotage found in the helicopter’s components and systems. The report also ruled out the possibility of the aircraft being attacked by offensive or defensive systems, electronic warfare or magnetic fields and lasers.
On 21 August, the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces denied a report claiming that the helicopter of the late President Ibrahim Raisi had crashed due to adverse weather conditions and excessive weight.
The flight teams were informed of the weather conditions the night before and were supposed to complete the flight by 1 p.m. local time. However, it was postponed due to meetings with the president, the report added.
It is necessary for media to coordinate with the [General Staff of the Armed Forces] when publishing defence, security, and law enforcement news, and to prioritise accuracy over speed to avoid providing opportunities for enemy abuse.
Following Raisi’s unexpected death, the country called a snap presidential election in which Masoud Pezeshkian won.
