Helicopter carrying Iran's hard-line president apparently crashes in foggy, mountainous region
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/helicopter-iranian-presidents-convoy-accident-125435509.html

Photos seem to show the group was flying a Bell 215.  Havta wonder how old the aircraft was....

Iran is believed to be within weeks of developing an atomic bomb. I am not a huge believer in coincidence.

'Iran set to reach nuclear goal in one or two weeks,' say experts (msn.com)

Quote from: Uomo Senza Nome on May 19, 2024, 02:17:10 PMIran is believed to be within weeks of developing an atomic bomb. I am not a huge believer in coincidence.

'Iran set to reach nuclear goal in one or two weeks,' say experts (msn.com)

I read this last night. And thought the same thing. I have not read the news yet. Anyone know if he is alive? I guess if he wasn't the headline would be different. Injured?

Videos from the staging area where the emergency equipment is gathering show really thick fog, with visibility of maybe 100ft.  So far, the reports are that they still haven't been able to get to the site, either by helicopter or on foot.

What's been reported is that they've been in contact with two people who were on the helicopter (one crew, one passenger) and that supposedly the crash was "not severe."  But notably, the president doesn't appear to be one of the people they've talked to.  If he was fine, you'd expect that he'd get on the phone to reassure people. 

Overall, it sounds like they were flying in very poor weather conditions and paid the price.  Given that President Raisi hasn't been heard from, I'd guess he's either deceased or badly injured. 

And apparently "hard landing" is a Russian euphemism when they don't want to admit to an actual "crash."

'No sign of life' at crash site of helicopter carrying Iran's president, others
https://www.yahoo.com/news/official-says-rescuers-see-helicopter-023159433.html

"Controlled flight into terrain"

IOW - they wadded it in.  Al Je-zzer-ieee is blaming the west as the shopper had old parts, what with the export restrictions and all.

(shrug)   Fly in the fog, you get what's coming.  Happened here with the basketball guy.

Iran is now saying the Present & Foreign Minster are now dead in the "hard landing."  

Quote from: TACAIR on May 19, 2024, 11:19:01 PM"Controlled flight into terrain"

IOW - they wadded it in.  Al Je-zzer-ieee is blaming the west as the shopper had old parts, what with the export restrictions and all.

(shrug)  Fly in the fog, you get what's coming.  Happened here with the basketball guy.

We all knew it was inevitable that whatever the outcome the west was getting blamed for some part in it.  No sense in letting any crisis/disaster go to waste if it can be used for propaganda against the west.

Helecopters in IFR conditions are notorious risky, much more so than a fixed wing plane.

IFR flight in mountainous areas at low levels like helecopter would use is extremely risky.

Old helicopters are notorious for needing a lot and I mean lot of maintenance.

Iran has trouble getting huey parts due to import restrictions. They do get aircraft stuff from the PRC.

The PRC is notorious for counterfeit parts of quality varying from garbage to ok.

So let's see...all other factors aside...like the political aspects...An old helecopter (maintained with parts sourced from who knows), flying IFR in a mountainous region ... what could possibly go wrong?

Throw in politics and you can see why many dictators prefer trains.

IMO this is likely the same as Kobe Bryant's crash. His helecopter BTW was well maintained. Controlled flight into terrain is my first guess.

But then what do I know?
.

Quote from: Raptor on May 20, 2024, 09:04:08 AMHelecopters in IFR conditions are notorious risky, much more so than a fixed wing plane.

IFR flight in mountainous areas at low levels like helecopter would use is extremely risky.

Old helicopters are notorious for needing a lot and I mean lot of maintenance.

Iran has trouble getting huey parts due to import restrictions. They do get aircraft stuff from the PRC.

The PRC is notorious for counterfeit parts of quality varying from garbage to ok.

So let's see...all other factors aside...like the political aspects...An old helecopter (maintained with parts sourced from who knows), flying IFR in a mountainous region ... what could possibly go wrong?

Throw in politics and you can see why many dictators prefer trains.

IMO this is likely the same as Kobe Bryant's crash. His helecopter BTW was well maintained. Controlled flight into terrain is my first guess.

But then what do I know?
.

Clear evidence of Mossad involvement.

Quote from: Raptor on May 20, 2024, 09:04:08 AMHelecopters in IFR conditions are notorious risky, much more so than a fixed wing plane.

Going bit off topic...  

You can generate a "Murphy" list of everything that can go wrong with a fixed wing aircraft that results is you falling out of the sky and dying.  You can do the same thing for a rotary wing (helicopter).  The rotary wing list is 3x longer than that of a fixed wing.  Approximately 3x more rotary wings aircraft fall out of the sky than fixed wing.  

Morel of the story, that more things that can go wrong - the more likely something will.  Keep your "Murphy" list short.

Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on May 20, 2024, 08:00:57 PM

Quote from: Raptor on May 20, 2024, 09:04:08 AMHelecopters in IFR conditions are notorious risky, much more so than a fixed wing plane.

Going bit off topic... 

You can generate a "Murphy" list of everything that can go wrong with a fixed wing aircraft that results is you falling out of the sky and dying.  You can do the same thing for a rotary wing (helicopter).  The rotary wing list is 3x longer than that of a fixed wing.  Approximately 3x more rotary wings aircraft fall out of the sky than fixed wing. 

Morel of the story, that more things that can go wrong - the more likely something will.  Keep your "Murphy" list short.

Add "Don't piss off the CIA." To your list too.

Quote from: Moab on May 20, 2024, 09:44:36 PM

Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on May 20, 2024, 08:00:57 PM

Quote from: Raptor on May 20, 2024, 09:04:08 AMHelecopters in IFR conditions are notorious risky, much more so than a fixed wing plane.

Going bit off topic... 

You can generate a "Murphy" list of everything that can go wrong with a fixed wing aircraft that results is you falling out of the sky and dying.  You can do the same thing for a rotary wing (helicopter).  The rotary wing list is 3x longer than that of a fixed wing.  Approximately 3x more rotary wings aircraft fall out of the sky than fixed wing. 

Morel of the story, that more things that can go wrong - the more likely something will.  Keep your "Murphy" list short.

Add "Don't piss off the CIA." To your list too.

Seems pretty close to falling out a window.  Is somebody not happy with the quality of recent purchases maybe?

Quote from: Moab on May 20, 2024, 09:44:36 PM

Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on May 20, 2024, 08:00:57 PM

Quote from: Raptor on May 20, 2024, 09:04:08 AMHelecopters in IFR conditions are notorious risky, much more so than a fixed wing plane.

Going bit off topic... 

You can generate a "Murphy" list of everything that can go wrong with a fixed wing aircraft that results is you falling out of the sky and dying.  You can do the same thing for a rotary wing (helicopter).  The rotary wing list is 3x longer than that of a fixed wing.  Approximately 3x more rotary wings aircraft fall out of the sky than fixed wing. 

Morel of the story, that more things that can go wrong - the more likely something will.  Keep your "Murphy" list short.

Add "Don't piss off the CIA." To your list too.

Or Boeing.

We all know what's been happening recently to folks who piss off Boeing.  

Quote from: NT2C on May 20, 2024, 09:51:47 PM

Quote from: Moab on May 20, 2024, 09:44:36 PM

Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on May 20, 2024, 08:00:57 PM

Quote from: Raptor on May 20, 2024, 09:04:08 AMHelecopters in IFR conditions are notorious risky, much more so than a fixed wing plane.

Going bit off topic... 

You can generate a "Murphy" list of everything that can go wrong with a fixed wing aircraft that results is you falling out of the sky and dying.  You can do the same thing for a rotary wing (helicopter).  The rotary wing list is 3x longer than that of a fixed wing.  Approximately 3x more rotary wings aircraft fall out of the sky than fixed wing. 

Morel of the story, that more things that can go wrong - the more likely something will.  Keep your "Murphy" list short.

Add "Don't piss off the CIA." To your list too.

Seems pretty close to falling out a window.  Is somebody not happy with the quality of recent purchases maybe?

Lmao!!!! 

All the articles I have read about this since the death have talked about the political hierarchy and other fallout from the presidents death.
Consensus seems to be that it will probably not change any major policies/decisions as the *president* is generally just there as a public face and rubber stamp for the religious committee that actually runs the country.

Quote from: Lambykins on May 21, 2024, 10:15:25 AMAll the articles I have read about this since the death have talked about the political hierarchy and other fallout from the presidents death.
Consensus seems to be that it will probably not change any major policies/decisions as the *president* is generally just there as a public face and rubber stamp for the religious committee that actually runs the country.

I think we don't know, what we don't know. We don't really have good eyes and ears in Iran and there is likely a lot more to it.

Quote from: Uomo Senza Nome on May 21, 2024, 11:15:23 AM

Quote from: Lambykins on May 21, 2024, 10:15:25 AMAll the articles I have read about this since the death have talked about the political hierarchy and other fallout from the presidents death.
Consensus seems to be that it will probably not change any major policies/decisions as the *president* is generally just there as a public face and rubber stamp for the religious committee that actually runs the country.

I think we don't know, what we don't know. We don't really have good eyes and ears in Iran and there is likely a lot more to it.

Yeah, there seems to be a marked distaste in Iran for heredity hierarchy BUT the most likely next president seems to be the son of the actual (religious) leader BUT right now there's a lot of protests over various things related to the lack of human rights/womens rights and so lots of Iranians are not happy of the prospect of son of said guy taking any kind of power. Interesting mix of things going on...not the least of which is they have to have an election within 50 days. But they generally have only about 10-15% participation.

Quote from: Uomo Senza Nome on May 20, 2024, 06:59:44 PM

Quote from: Raptor on May 20, 2024, 09:04:08 AMHelecopters in IFR conditions are notorious risky, much more so than a fixed wing plane.

IFR flight in mountainous areas at low levels like helecopter would use is extremely risky.

Old helicopters are notorious for needing a lot and I mean lot of maintenance.

Iran has trouble getting huey parts due to import restrictions. They do get aircraft stuff from the PRC.

The PRC is notorious for counterfeit parts of quality varying from garbage to ok.

So let's see...all other factors aside...like the political aspects...An old helecopter (maintained with parts sourced from who knows), flying IFR in a mountainous region ... what could possibly go wrong?

Throw in politics and you can see why many dictators prefer trains.

IMO this is likely the same as Kobe Bryant's crash. His helecopter BTW was well maintained. Controlled flight into terrain is my first guess.

But then what do I know?
.

Clear evidence of Mossad involvement.

Joke making the rounds is that the pilot is named
Eli Kopter.  Mossad, eh?

Or just bad parts + bad weather =  Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (youtube.com)