Copter carrying Raeisi made hard landing in East Azarbaijan

Unconfirmed social media reports reported at first an incident had taken place for one of the 3 helicopters carrying the Iranian President’s convoy on the visit to East Azarbaijan Province in northwest Iran on Sunday.

Mehr reporter’s follow-up on the news indicated that the helicopter carrying the president landed on the ground due to the foggy weather in the northern region of East Azarbaijan, and now the president’s convoy was on its way to Tabriz.

The president and his convoy was traveling the distance between Khodaafarin and Tabriz by land to reach Tabriz.

Later some local media reports suggested that the chopper made a hard landing.

The Friday Prayers Imam of Tabriz, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and some other ministers and high-ranking officials are accompanying the president Raeisi.

The rescue and search team are reported to have faced difficulties in reaching the site of the hard landing of the copter.

The interior minister Ahmad Vahidi has confirmed to the national TV that one of the copters of the president’s convoy had a hard landing.

“Various rescue groups are moving towards the site, but due to the fog and bad weather, it may take time to reach the area. The work is under control,” Vahidi said.

“There have been contacts with [the president’s] companions, but given that the area is mountainous and it is difficult to establish contacts, we hope that the rescue teams will reach the site of the incident sooner and give us more information,” the interior minister added.

Local Iranian media have reported that it is heavily raining in the area in Varzaghan District and it is hard for the rescue and search teams to walk in the dense fog.

This item is being updated…

MNA/6112132