Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were confirmed dead after rescuers reached the crash site on Monday, May 20, said Iran's State TV. The discovery came after a long night of searching in freezing conditions. Shortly before the discovery, Iranian Red Crescent Society head Pir-Hossein Kolivand described the situation as “not good.” According to news agency Reuters, the helicopter was completely burned in the crash.
Earlier on Monday, the president of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) head Pir-Hossein Kolivand said that rescue teams arrived at the wreckage of the crashed helicopter carrying the president.
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Footage Shows Iran President’s Helicopter Completely Destroyed
He did not give further detail but said, "The condition is not good", state news agency IRNA reported. "73 rescue teams are present in the search area of the helicopter in Tawal village with advanced and specialized equipment", he added.
The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had said that rescue teams were heading towards the crash site of the chopper carrying Ebrahim Raisi after a Turkish drone, Akinci, identified a heat source in the accident region, Press TV reported.