Iran’s General Staff released a second preliminary investigation report into the helicopter crash that killed President Ibrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hussein Abdullahian and other officials.
An examination of the maintenance and repair records for the helicopter involved in the accident found no problems in this regard, and no emergency or loss of communications with the crew was reported until 69 seconds before the accident, they said.
After the helicopter took off on its first flight route from Tabriz to the Abend Bridge and Kizkaresh Dam, weather conditions were reported to be suitable for visual flight conditions, consistent with available documentation and pilot and passenger statements. The impact of weather conditions on the return route from the accident for the other two helicopters needs to be investigated in more detail.
“No evidence of sabotage or electronic warfare interference was found.”
It was stressed that examination of the helicopter’s wreckage, parts and samples taken had revealed no evidence of sabotage or electronic warfare interference.
It was noted that investigations will continue until the actual cause of the accident is known and the findings will be shared with the public.
President Raisi died in a helicopter crash on May 19 while returning from the opening ceremony of a dam on the Iran-Azerbaijan border, which also killed eight officials, including Foreign Minister Hussein Emir Abdullahiyan.
In its first preliminary investigation report into the cause of the accident, released on May 24, the General Staff reported that no traces of bullets or similar foreign objects were found on any of the helicopter’s parts.
