In a tragic turn of events, the international community is once again mourning the loss of a head of state in a helicopter crash. The most recent incident involves Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, who, along with his foreign minister and other officials, was confirmed dead after their helicopter crashed in the mountainous region of Iran’s northwest.
The final flight of President Raisi was on May 19, 2024, in Iran. He was president from 2021 to 2024.
The helicopter carrying President Raisi and his delegation encountered severe weather conditions, leading to a crash landing. The incident took place as the president was returning from the inauguration of a dam on the Aras river with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
The crash site was located in a remote area near the Dizmar Protected Area in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. Despite the deployment of 20 rescue teams and drones, no survivors were found.
This incident adds to a somber list of similar tragedies that have occurred over the years. Below is a historical overview of past airplane and helicopter incidents involving presidents:
– José Félix Estigarribia, President of Paraguay, died in a airplane crash on September 7, 1940, in Altos, Paraguay.
– Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines, died in a airplane crash on March 17, 1957, in Balamban, Cebu, Philippines.
– Nereu Ramos, President of Brazil, died in a airplane crash on June 16, 1958, in São José dos Pinhais, Brazil.
– Abdul Salam Arif, President of Iraq, died in a airplane crash on April 13, 1966, in Baghdad, Iraq.
– Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, President of Brazil, died in a airplane crash on July 18, 1967, in Fortaleza, Brazil.
– René Barrientos, President of Bolivia, died in a helicopter crash on April 27, 1969, in Arque, Bolivia.
– Jaime Roldós Aguilera, President of Ecuador, died in a airplane crash on May 24, 1981, in Huairapungo, Ecuador.
– Samora Machel, President of Mozambique, died in a airplane crash on October 19, 1986, in Mbuzini, South Africa.
– Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, President of Pakistan, died in a airplane crash on August 17, 1988, in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
– Juvénal Habyarimana, President of Rwanda, died in a airplane crash on April 6, 1994, in Kigali, Rwanda.
– Cyprien Ntaryamira, President of Burundi, died in a airplane crash on April 6, 1994, in Kigali, Rwanda.
– Boris Trajkovski, President of North Macedonia, died in a airplane crash on February 26, 2004, in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– Lech Kaczyński, President of Poland, died in a airplane crash on April 10, 2010, in Smolensk, Russia.
– Sebastián Piñera, former President of Chile, died in a airplane crash on February 6, 2024, in Lake Ranco, Chile.
