According to state media, a preliminary report on the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday has discovered no indications of any criminal activity.
According to the army report, the aircraft caught fire upon colliding with an elevated area. The wreckage investigation revealed no evidence of bullet holes.
According to the information provided, the helicopter followed a pre-planned route and did not deviate from the designated flight path.
The military committee investigating the crash has announced that further details will be revealed as the inquiry progresses.
President Ebrahim Raisi’s burial took place in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday. The tragic incident occurred four days earlier when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed while returning from a dam inauguration near the Azerbaijan border.
In heavy rain, the aircraft, a Bell 212 manufactured in the US and decades old, collided with a mountainside while en route to the city of Tabriz in the north-west.
According to the preliminary report, there have been no indications of anything suspicious in the control tower’s discussions with the flight crew.
According to the report, there were no signs of gunshot or any similar damage observed in the wreckage.
Rescue teams faced challenges in locating the aircraft due to the complexity of the area, fog, and low temperatures. Drones were eventually able to find the aircraft on Monday, but the adverse weather conditions made the rescue operation difficult.
According to a statement released by the military on Thursday, the last communication from the president’s helicopter was recorded approximately 90 seconds before the crash occurred.
In a tragic incident, the president, aged 63, was on board the helicopter along with Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, three other officials, and the three crew members. Unfortunately, there were no survivors.
Tehran has declared a period of mourning lasting five days. The funeral processions have seen an overwhelming turnout, with tens of thousands of individuals participating.
Raisi, an influential cleric known for his hardline stance, was widely regarded as a possible successor to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Acting President Mohammad Mokhber will hold office until the upcoming election scheduled for 28 June.
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