Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has confirmed that a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raeisi makes a hard landing in the city of Jolfa in the northwestern Iranian province of East Azarbaijan.
The helicopter was transporting President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and several other passengers when it encountered difficulties and was forced to make a “hard landing” near Jolfa, a city bordering the nation of Azerbaijan.
The incident happened at Dizmar forest, between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa.
One hour after the incident, rescue teams reached the area and started search operations.
Twenty rescue teams have been deployed to the region, but due to the difficult terrain and bad weather conditions, particularly heavy fog, the search and rescue operation will take time, authorities said.
Drone units are also assisting with the emergency operation.
Two other helicopters carrying a number of ministers and officials reached the destination safely.
President Raisi was returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
PressTv
