The helicopter crash that claimed the life of Iran’s late President Ebrahim Raisi in May was caused by adverse weather conditions and the helicopter’s inability to manage the excessive weight it was carrying, according to a security source familiar with the final investigation results. This report was published by Iran’s semi-official news agency on Wednesday.
Despite these findings, the Armed Forces General Staff’s communications center, responsible for disseminating information on the crash, has denied the accuracy of the report, calling it “completely false,” as reported by state media.
Earlier, in May, a preliminary investigation by Iran’s military found no signs of foul play or attack in connection with the crash.
The security source, speaking to Fars News Agency, confirmed that the investigation had been concluded, and it was determined with “complete certainty” that the crash was accidental. The source cited two primary causes: unsuitable weather conditions and the helicopter being overloaded, which caused it to crash into a mountain. The helicopter was reportedly carrying two more passengers than the number allowed under security protocols.
Raisi, who was once considered a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, lost his life in the crash, which occurred in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border.
