The Iranian General Staff has released the final report on the May 2024 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and several other officials. The investigation concludes that the primary cause of the accident was ‘complex weather and atmospheric conditions’ in the mountainous region during spring.According to the report, the sudden formation of ‘a thick mass of dense and rising fog’ led to the helicopter’s collision with a mountain. The investigation found no evidence of sabotage, electronic warfare, or any criminal activity. This conclusion aligns with the Iranian military’s initial assessment made shortly after the incident.The report also addressed and refuted earlier claims made by some news agencies, particularly Fars News Agency, which had suggested that the helicopter was overloaded with two additional passengers in violation of safety protocols. The Iranian Armed Forces categorically denied these claims, stating that such information was ‘completely incorrect’.Investigators thoroughly examined the helicopter’s maintenance records, including major repairs and replacement of critical parts over the past four years, and found all procedures to be in accordance with established standards. The flight path was also confirmed to be as planned, based on the analysis of the pilot’s handheld computer.This official conclusion puts to rest various speculations about the cause of the crash and reaffirms the challenging nature of aviation in mountainous regions with unpredictable weather patterns. The tragedy led to early presidential elections in July 2024, marking a significant political transition for Iran.
Key points
- The final report confirms that complex weather conditions, specifically dense fog, caused the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Raisi.
- The investigation found no evidence of sabotage, electronic warfare, or safety protocol violations.
- Earlier claims about the helicopter being overloaded were officially refuted by the Iranian Armed Forces.
Contradictions👾While the final report rules out overloading as a cause, there were earlier claims by Fars News Agency suggesting the helicopter carried extra passengers, which were subsequently denied by the Iranian military.
