The Iranian Armed Forces have confirmed that the helicopter crash, which claimed the life of President Ebrahim Raisi, his Foreign Minister, and other senior officials, was caused by harsh weather conditions.
The incident, which occurred on May 19 in a mountainous region near the Azerbaijan border, resulted in the tragic loss of Iran’s top leadership.
According to the final report released by the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces on Sunday, dense fog and severe weather in northwestern Iran were identified as the primary factors leading to the crash.
The report corroborates earlier findings that the helicopter, despite maintaining its predetermined flight path, encountered rapidly deteriorating weather conditions that ultimately led to the accident.
Military and civilian experts thoroughly reviewed all maintenance records and repairs carried out on the helicopter since its purchase.
The experts determined that all major repairs and replacement of critical parts had been conducted in strict accordance with standard regulations, ruling out any mechanical failure as a contributing factor.
The Ministry of Defense conducted extensive tests on the remaining parts and systems from the crashed helicopter, including engines, power transmission systems, fuel systems, and electronic equipment.
The analysis revealed no defects or malfunctions that could have led to the crash, further supporting the conclusion that adverse weather conditions were the primary cause.
Additionally, a forensic committee conducted toxicological and pathological tests on the remains of the victims. The results indicated no suspicious findings, and the investigation ruled out the possibility of sabotage, cyber-attacks, or external interference such as magnetic fields or lasers.
