Türkiye sending night vision search helicopter, 32 rescuers, 6 vehicles to help Iran find president's crashed copter

ISTANBUL

Türkiye's Disaster Management Agency (AFAD) announced on Sunday that the country is sending a night vision search and rescue helicopter and 32 rescuers following a request from Iran.

"Iran has requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from Türkiye" through the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the agency said on X.

"32 search and rescue mountaineers from the Van and Erzurum branches of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and 6 vehicles are en route to the area," it added.

Also, "15 mountaineer search and rescue personnel from Ankara, Diyarbakir, and Konya are on standby," the agency said and added it is closely monitoring the situation for further developments.

Meanwhile, Türkiye's National Defense Ministry said that in response to a request from Iranian authorities through our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an Akinci Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, and a night-vision capable Cougar helicopter have been assigned to participate in the search and rescue operations for the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and his delegation.

The helicopter will remain on standby, ready to deploy based on weather conditions.

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reportedly made a hard landing due to weather conditions while returning from a dam inauguration ceremony on the Azerbaijan border.

The Iranian Red Crescent previously announced that the "crash" occurred between Kaleybar and Varzaqan. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi emphasized that rescue teams had not yet reached the area.

East Azerbaijan Deputy Governor Jabbarali Zakiri stated that two of the three helicopters in Raisi's convoy had landed, while one had crashed.

The helicopter carrying Raisi included several officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.