This Photo Does Not Show the Aftermath of the Iranian President's Helicopter Crash

Misbar investigated the viral photo and found the claim to be misleading.

After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the photo making the rounds to be outdated and unrelated to the recent incident of the Iranian President’s helicopter crash.

An Outdated Photo of a Plane Crash in Iran’s Mazandaran Province 

Contrary to social media users and media outlets' viral claim, the photo in question is older than claimed.

Misbar’s team traced back to the earliest publication of the photo and found it on Persian websites about a plane crash that occurred in Mazandaran province.

The Iranian Red Crescent also shared photos of the plane crash in Mazandaran on Instagram on April 22, 2020. 

The post's caption confirms the tragic loss of the pilot and co-pilot in the crash incident. According to the head of the Red Crescent Rescue Organization, the aircraft, en route from Bisheh Kola to Tehran, crashed near Motel Qu in Salman Shahr, Iran, as reported by local sources and military institutions. 

In response to this accident, nine operatives from the Red Crescent, accompanied by three vehicles, were swiftly dispatched to the area to provide relief assistance.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Died in a Helicopter Crash

On May 20, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was pronounced dead, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and six officials, in a helicopter crash near the border with Azerbaijan. 

The aircraft went down amidst foggy weather conditions, with the wreckage found after an overnight search in challenging blizzard conditions. Concerns escalated for Raisi when communication was lost while navigating fog-covered mountains in northwest Iran.

The crash occurred near Jolfa, a city bordering Azerbaijan, approximately 375 miles (600km) northwest of Tehran, while the president was traveling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. Per Iran's constitution, a new presidential election must be held within 50 days.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced Mohammad Mokhber, the first vice president, as interim president, and Ali Bagheri Kani as acting foreign minister. Khamenei declared five days of public mourning and extended condolences to the Iranian people.

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Outdated Photo Allegedly Shows Iranian President Raisi After Helicopter Crash Rescue