Final Report Calls Helicopter Accident That Killed Iranian President Raisi Due To Bad Weather

JAKARTA - The Iranian Armed Forces in the report finally stated that the helicopter crash that killed the late President Ebrahim Raisi was caused by weather conditions, including thick fog, with no signs of sabotage or interference found.

President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and another senior official, died when their helicopter crashed into a mountainous area near Azerbaijan's border on May 19.

In a final report released Sunday, the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces confirmed previous findings that bad weather conditions in northwestern Iran at the time of the incident, including thick fog and rising, were the main cause of the accident, reported by IRNA September 2.

All documents related to helicopter maintenance and repair since the purchase were carefully reviewed by military and civilian experts, ensuring all major improvements and replacement of essential parts are carried out in accordance with standard regulations.

"Detailed analysis of the flight path shows the helicopter was on a predetermined route and did not deviate from it during the flight," the report said.

"The remaining parts and systems of the helicopters that crashed, including engines, power transmission systems, fuel systems and electronic equipment, were thoroughly tested by experts from the Ministry of Defense and no defects were found that could have caused the accident," the report added.

In addition, the forensic committee conducted toxicology and pathological tests on the remains of the victim's body. The results showed no suspicious findings.

The investigation also rules out the possibility of sabotage or helicopters being targeted by offensive and defensive systems, cyberattacks, or magnetic and laser fields.