What was the model of the crashed helicopter that killed Iran’s president?
Few details have been released with the circumstances of the crash but the helicopter model is known to observers.
Iran was struck by tragedy as President Ebrahim Raisi, second only to the Ayatollah for importance in Iranian politics, was killed in a helicopter crash.
The unfortunate incident occurred as President Raisi, along with his foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, were returning from a visit to the Azerbaijan border. The helicopter carrying them crashed in mountainous terrain amidst heavy fog, resulting in their deaths that were confirmed early this morning.
The helicopter carrying the group was a US-made Bell 212 model. The helicopter was part of a convoy of three helicopters.
What is a Bell 212?
What - and who - next for Iran?
"No signs of life" at Raisi crash site
The Bell 212, also known as the Bell UH-1N Twin Huey, is a twin-engine medium utility helicopter. Developed in the mid-1960s in cooperation with the Canadian government, the Bell 212 has a crew capacity of 1 to 2 individuals and can accommodate 13 to 14 passengers.
This versatile helicopter has been utilised by various civil and government operators, particularly in industries like oil and gas, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations. The Bell 212′s design and capabilities have made it a reliable and widely used aircraft in both civilian and military applications, itself being a development of the famous Bell Huey chopper used by the US in the Vietnam war.