Iran has dismissed the possibility of sabotage or electronic warfare as the cause of the helicopter crash that led to the tragic deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and his team, as stated by the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces on Wednesday.
The senior investigation committee’s second report outlined the results of the inquiry into the crash on May 19 in East Azarbaijan province, as reported by the official news agency IRNA. After examining the wreckage and debris distribution, the investigation determined that an explosion due to sabotage during the flight or right before the helicopter hit the mountain was improbable.
Furthermore, the report ruled out electronic warfare, citing a lack of evidence. Weather conditions on May 19 were considered suitable for Visual Flight Rules during flights from Tabriz to locations near the Azerbaijan border, although further analysis of conditions during the return journey is still ongoing.
No defects related to the helicopter’s overhaul and maintenance were found to have contributed to the crash. The helicopter’s weight, including passengers and equipment, was within limits at takeoff and during the flight. Recorded communications between the pilots indicated the last contact with the crashed helicopter occurred 69 seconds before the incident, with no emergency declared.
The first report from the investigation committee was released on May 23. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, representative of the Supreme Leader to East Azarbaijan, were also on board.