The European Commission, at Iran’s request, activated a satellite mapping service on Sunday under the Copernicus program to assist in the search for the helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi, which crashed near the city of Jolfa in Iran's East Azerbaijan province.
EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič announced on Twitter that, in response to Iran’s request for assistance, the EU is activating the Copernicus rapid response program’s mapping service.
Copernicus is the EU’s earth observation program, implemented by the European Commission in collaboration with the European Space Agency.
Search efforts continue near the city of Jolfa in northeastern Iran following the helicopter crash involving the country’s president. Iranian media reported that the incident occurred as President Ebrahim Raisi was returning from the inauguration ceremony of a dam on the Arax River at the Iran-Azerbaijan border, attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
European Council President Charles Michel assured that, along with EU member states, he is closely monitoring reports on the helicopter crash.Upon Iranian request for assistance we are activating the 🇪🇺's @CopernicusEMS rapid response 📡 mapping service in view of to the helicopter accident reportedly carrying the President of #Iran and its foreign minister. #EUSolidarity
— Janez Lenarčič (@JanezLenarcic) May 19, 2024
Copernicus is the EU’s earth observation program, implemented by the European Commission in collaboration with the European Space Agency.
Search efforts continue near the city of Jolfa in northeastern Iran following the helicopter crash involving the country’s president. Iranian media reported that the incident occurred as President Ebrahim Raisi was returning from the inauguration ceremony of a dam on the Arax River at the Iran-Azerbaijan border, attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
The convoy included three helicopters, two of which returned safely. It is believed that Raisi was accompanied on the same helicopter by Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the Supreme Leader’s representative in the province.
According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, those on board the helicopter with the president managed to make a distress call, raising hopes that the incident might be resolved “without fatalities.”
In line with the Iranian constitution, in case of the president’s demise, the First Vice President, who is currently Muhammad Mokhber, will take over as president with the approval of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and after 50 days, presidential elections will be held.
Iran has a dismal track record in aviation accidents, partly due to the sanctions imposed after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, which have hindered the country's ability to acquire the essential equipment needed to upkeep its air fleet.
Since 1979, nearly 2,000 Iranians have died in aviation accidents, with 1,755 fatalities involving Iranian airlines over the past 44 years.
According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, those on board the helicopter with the president managed to make a distress call, raising hopes that the incident might be resolved “without fatalities.”
In line with the Iranian constitution, in case of the president’s demise, the First Vice President, who is currently Muhammad Mokhber, will take over as president with the approval of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and after 50 days, presidential elections will be held.
Iran has a dismal track record in aviation accidents, partly due to the sanctions imposed after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, which have hindered the country's ability to acquire the essential equipment needed to upkeep its air fleet.
Since 1979, nearly 2,000 Iranians have died in aviation accidents, with 1,755 fatalities involving Iranian airlines over the past 44 years.
Source: TVP World, PAP
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