Iran helicopter crash: Finger ring helped rescuers identify Raisi’s dead body, watch
With the chilling discovery, it immediately became clear that Raisi was no longer alive.
As a tragic helicopter crash killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Sunday (May 19), a striking image went viral on the internet taken during the moment rescuers first reached the site.Theimageshows a ringthatwas wornby the dead president, a giftthathe reportedly received from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini.
With the chilling discovery, it immediately became clear that the top Iranian leader was no longer alive.
Raisi and the foreign ministerwere travellingvia the Bell 212 helicopter, known for its civilian use and roots in the Vietnam War-era UH-1N"Twin Huey."But on Sunday, it failed to safely navigate through dense fog in the mountainous region of Jolfa in northwestern Iran.
He is not the first Iranian leader whose dead body, following a fatal accident, has been identified through his ring.
Back in 2020, whenIranian Revolutionary Guards commanderGeneral Qassem Soleimani was killedin a drone strike atBaghdad International Airport,his body was identifiedthrough the prominent red ring on his severed hand.
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Watch:Raisi's chopper crash: Iran begins probe in chopper crash
The deadly blast had tornSoleimani'sbody to pieces, which made it almost impossible for the rescuers to identify his body. But his ring came to their rescue.
A total of 10 bodieswere foundin the wreckage, including those of five Revolutionary Guard members andSoleimani’sson-in-law.
Iran to hold elections on June 28
Meanwhile, Iran has announced it will hold elections on June 28 to elect its new president.
"The election calendar was approved at the meeting of the heads of the judiciary, government, and parliament,"state media reported.
"According to the initial agreement of the Guardian Council, it was decided that the 14th presidential election will be held on June 28."
Meanwhile, a probe is underway to identify the cause of the Sunday helicopter crash.Iran's military chief of staffMohammadBagheriordered a high-ranking committee to launch an investigation into the cause of thepresident'shelicopter crash"that took place on Sunday, the ISNA news agency reported.
(With inputs from agencies)