Iranian television announced that a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi experienced a "hard landing" in East Azerbaijan Province. It was reported that rescue teams are trying to reach the accident site under poor weather conditions. The helicopter was carrying the Iranian president, as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malik Rahmati, Tabriz’s Friday Prayer Imam Ayatollah Al-Hashemi, and several other officials.
The helicopter is a MI 171 model, capable of flying up to 600 kilometers. The Mi-171 helicopter is a developed version of the Russian Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter and is considered one of the most common and widely used helicopters in the world due to its multiple capabilities and high flexibility in various environments and operational conditions. This helicopter is produced by the Russian company "Mil" and is used for both military and civilian purposes. There are several developed versions of the Mi-171 to meet diverse needs, including versions designated for military and civilian purposes, as well as those specifically designed for search and rescue and air ambulance missions.
