The helicopter crash that resulted in the death of Iran’s late President Ebrahim Raisi in May was caused by adverse weather conditions and the aircraft’s inability to handle the weight it was carrying, according to a final investigation report cited by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the crash was an accident, ruling out any foul play or attack.
The investigation identified two main causes: unsuitable weather conditions and the helicopter being overloaded, which led to it crashing into a mountain near the Azerbaijan border. The report also noted that the helicopter was carrying two more individuals than security protocols allowed.
Raisi, a hardliner and potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, tragically lost his life in the crash while in mountainous terrain.
