Not TOO soft, I hope.......

[Boac]

It is reported that a helo carrying the Iranian president and some senior bods had a 'hard landing', possibly in a mountainous area in 'fog'.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... -camp-gaza

Oh dear.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

The rain and fog at the crash site is now turning to snow. The aircraft is now reported as not yet found, despite earlier reports that it had been.
I do not fancy the chances of anyone surviving unless they were uninjured and could use the wreckage for shelter.
At least 3 ministers and the Head of the Revolutionary Guard are reportedly on site.
I doubt we will hear promptly if the Pres is now selecting his 72 virgin goats, but the lack of news itself will be enough to confirm his demise.

[G-CPTN]

Burned-out wreckage located, no signs of life.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Foreign Minister also likely toast.
Despite a Fatwa being issued by the Supreme Leader, Invalid Votes came second in the last Presidential Election. All of the mainstream and popular candidates were excluded from running.
So, doubtless Khamenei (previously the 3rd President) will have to shoo-in another hardliner as his putative successor.
He's 85, so whoever it is will likely be running the place shortly.
The Vice-Prez, now presumably Acting Prez, is Mukhbar, who did the deal to ship Shahed drones to putin, but is not a cleric so not in the running long term.
The Iranians tend to pick cleverer sidekicks to keep the old clerics in charge up to speed so they don't show themselves up for the idiots they are.
The next Prez is unlikely to be anything other than a very hardliner, like Raisi 'The butcher of Tehran', so named after overseeing all the 1988 executions.
As with Foreign Minister, I doubt the level of expertise will be going anywhere but down. Expect more radical and stupid decisions as the Gaza situation, and others, continue.

[OFSO]

Reported dead along with other ministers, top officials, etc.

[Rwy in Sight]

Fox3 wrote a superb comment in post#4 very well thought. I am wondering if this wasn't an accident then whoever ordered it maybe didn't act wisely since it opens the road to more hardliners.

[probes]

Interesting, isn't it.
Him, and at this 'volatile' time. Globally.



It's said to be surprising how many widely varied versions were produced by Iran themselves, from the MI-117 (ruz produced? or was it the Bell-212?) having been shot down to a heavy landing and Raisi travelling on by car. Then, a massive rescue operation 'reported' despite the weather conditions and landscape being really difficult.
Somewhat difficult period for the nation also expected, but no major changes. Maybe less influence in the region for some time.

[probes]

Bell 412, some claim: https://x.com/IntelliTimes/status/1792207335576015214

[tango15]

It seems that a week before he was shot on 15 May, Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico visited Azerbaijan and met with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on 7 May. Also, the Crocus venue in Moscow is part-Azerbaijani owned.

[probes]

Hm.

Israel: it wasn't us! Israel denies involvement in Iran president's helicopter crash


Helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi leaves site as one of the helicopters in his convoy crashed after the inauguration of a dam on the border along with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Jabrayil district of Azerbaijan on May 19, 2024. [Islamic Republic News (IRNA) – Anadolu Agency]

[Boac]

Oh good! Another conspiracy theory. Israel responsible for low cloud on the hills?

[limeygal]

Reported dead along with other ministers, top officials, etc.

Well, it's a start! (too soon?)

[Dushan]

Question for Mosad: how do you start a fog on a hill?

[Dushan]

Hm.

Israel: it wasn't us! Israel denies involvement in Iran president's helicopter crash

Nothing is confirmed until it is officially denied.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

The Mossad
Motto: "It's never an accident"

[Boac]

Which means October 7th was down to Mossad?

[llondel]

Question for Mosad: how do you start a fog on a hill?

I saw a report that said the pilot was a Mossad agent named Eli Copter.

[PHXPhlyer]

Any more definitive report on aircraft type, MI-117 or Bell-212?

PP

[Boac]

Bell 212, I believe.

llondel - a good Iranian name, there..............

Co-pilot was 'Foggy' Hills

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

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