A preliminary report by Iranian military investigators has found no evidence of criminal activity in the helicopter crash that killed former President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others.
The report, released on Thursday, indicated that the helicopter caught fire after hitting an elevated area, and no bullet holes were discovered on the wreckage.
The investigation, carried out by the general staff of the armed forces, also determined that the helicopter was following a pre-planned route and did not deviate from its designated flight path before the crash.
Furthermore, there was no suspicious content in the communications between the watch tower and the flight crew.
The final communication between the president’s craft and two accompanying helicopters occurred about a minute and a half before the crash.
The wreckage was discovered in Iran’s mountainous northwest by Iranian drones on Monday. Challenging weather conditions have hindered the efforts of search and rescue teams.
While the report did not assign blame, it mentioned that more details would be provided as the investigation continues. The ageing Bell helicopter that crashed was carrying Raisi and his entourage home from a trip to Iran’s border with Azerbaijan on Sunday.
Raisi was laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday, concluding days of funeral ceremonies attended by thousands of mourners. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, who also perished in the incident, was buried on Thursday in the town of Shahr-e Ray, south of the capital.
A presidential election has been scheduled for June 28. The findings of the investigation will be closely watched as the country mourns the loss of its former leader and confronts the challenges ahead.
