Site of the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi near Varzaqan, approximately 670 km from capital city Tehran (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
The report also cited the sudden appearance of a thick mass of dense fog rising upwards as the helicopter collided with the mountain. There were no signs of sabotage in parts and systems, it added.
As the helicopter entered the foggy area on its way back from the Iran-Azerbaijan border, the pilot attempted to fly above the fog, but the engine lacked sufficient power. The helicopter then crashed into a mountainside obscured by the fog.
Raisi died along with eight others including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. Iran’s preliminary investigation found no evidence of a terrorist attack.