Helicopter carrying Iran's Raisi crashes in Azerbaijan

Incident leaves three injured, including the president

Helicopter was flying in mountainous region amid heavy fog

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has crashed in Azerbaijan, injuring three people, including the president. The incident occurred on Sunday, May 19, 2024, while Raisi was visiting the neighboring country. The helicopter was flying in a mountainous region amid heavy fog when it went down.

According to Iranian state media, Raisi and the two other injured individuals were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Raisi is a hard-line conservative who has been president of Iran since 2021. He is known for his anti-Western views and his support for the country's nuclear program. Raisi was visiting Azerbaijan to attend a regional summit.

The crash of Raisi's helicopter is a reminder of the dangers of travel in the mountainous regions of Azerbaijan. The country is home to a number of high peaks, and the weather can be unpredictable. In 2021, a passenger plane crashed in Azerbaijan, killing all 29 people on board.

The crash of Raisi's helicopter will likely raise questions about the safety of air travel in Azerbaijan. The country's aviation industry has been under scrutiny in recent years, following a number of accidents. In 2019, an Antonov An-12 cargo plane crashed in Azerbaijan, killing all eight people on board.