Iranian television said that initial reports indicated a “hard landing” accident for a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in East Azerbaijan province.

Iranian television added that rescue teams are trying to reach the site of the accident, but the harsh weather conditions and dense fog are making their mission difficult.

The official Iranian News Agency (IRNA) reported that the Foreign Minister and a number of officials were on board the helicopter with the Iranian President.

In turn, Tasnim News Agency indicated that the president was traveling in a convoy of 3 helicopters, and added that the other two helicopters were carrying a number of ministers and had arrived at their destination safely.

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran, Nour al-Din al-Daghir, said that the helicopter that was involved in the accident was carrying the Iranian President, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the representative of the Iranian leader in East Azerbaijan Province, and the governor of the province.

He explained that there is no clear information about how the plane landed yet, but there is talk of a difficult landing, noting that the Julfa area where the plane landed is witnessing very difficult weather that makes it difficult to determine exactly what happened.

Ambiguity surrounding the accident

The Al Jazeera correspondent reported that there is ambiguity in the terminology: is it a fall or an emergency landing? He pointed out that the dense fog makes it difficult for the helicopter pilot to carry out his mission, in addition to the mountainous terrain of the region and the strong winds.

The correspondent explained that the president was in East Azerbaijan province on the border with the state of Azerbaijan, where he attended the opening ceremony of a joint dam between the two countries, and after that the convoy transporting the president moved, which consisted of 3 helicopters, one of which was carrying the president accompanied by a number of officials.

He added that there was information about a call that took place with one of the president's companions, and this is what made everyone in Iran speak with hope that those on board the plane were in good condition.

Race before dark

The Al Jazeera correspondent stated that no one could confirm what happened to the plane or who was on board.

He added that the problem now is locating the president's plane and then reaching it, explaining that the rescue teams have about two hours to reach the plane's location before dark.

The following is a chronology of the event, starting with the latest developments:

Fars Agency calls on Iranians to pray for the president following reports of the crash of his helicopter

Nour News: Rescue teams arrived at the scene of the Iranian president’s helicopter accident in Warzegan and began search operations

Iranian TV, quoting an official in East Azerbaijan: The helicopter carrying the president was not found, and there is no information about his condition

Iranian Interior Minister: Bad weather conditions led to a difficult landing for the helicopter that was transporting the Iranian president

Iranian Interior Minister: Rescue teams have not yet been able to reach the accident site

Iranian Interior Minister: Weather conditions are bad and we are awaiting the arrival of rescue teams in order to convey accurate information about the accident

Iranian Interior Minister: There is difficulty in communicating with the president’s team due to the geographical nature of the place

Reuters on the Iranian Interior Minister: A helicopter in President Raisi’s convoy suffered a difficult landing Reuters on the Iranian Interior Minister: Rescue teams are still on their way to the site due to the difficult weather conditions Iranian Emergency Authority: Sending Red Crescent rescue teams and drones to the site of the accident Iranian Emergency Authority: We have not yet received Now there are no reports of the Iranian president's helicopter crashing

Nour News, on the authority of the head of the Red Crescent Relief and Rescue Organization: sending Red Crescent drones to the site of the accident

Tasnim Agency, quoting local residents: Due to fog and bad weather conditions, the status of the helicopter is still unknown

Tasnim News Agency: A large group of relief forces is searching for the helicopter carrying the Iranian president

Iranian TV: Harsh weather conditions and dense fog make rescue teams' efforts difficult

Iranian News Agency (IRNA): The Foreign Minister and a number of officials were on board the helicopter with the Iranian President

Iranian TV: Rescue teams are trying to reach the accident site

Iranian TV: Initial reports of a difficult landing for a helicopter carrying the Iranian President in East Azerbaijan Province

Source: Al Jazeera + Iranian press