Tehran, Iran – May 19, 2024 – In a tense turn of events, Iranian state media reports that a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in a hard landing during a return trip from the country’s northwestern border with Azerbaijan. Early reports suggest the incident occurred in a mountainous region amidst heavy fog, raising concerns about the safety of those on board.

Details surrounding the nature of the hard landing remain scarce. While some Iranian officials have used the term “crash,” state media has primarily referred to it as a “hard landing.” This ambiguity fuels anxieties as search and rescue teams race against harsh weather conditions to locate the missing helicopter.

President Raisi was reportedly joined by Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other dignitaries on the flight. The public has been urged to remain calm and pray for their safety.

Adding another layer of complexity, a rescue helicopter attempting to reach the reported crash site was unable to land due to the heavy fog. Local emergency services are scrambling to locate the president’s helicopter and assess the situation.

This developing story has the potential for significant domestic and international repercussions. We still don’t know if this was a technical error or if it was deliberate due to the tensions among the Iranian people or the high tensions between Israel and Iran due to the war in Gaza. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. Stay tuned for further details on President Raisi’s condition, the cause of the incident, and the ongoing rescue efforts.