Iranian Military Report Finds No Evidence of Foul Play in Raisi Helicopter Crash

The Iranian military committee investigating the May 19 helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has issued a preliminary report finding no evidence of criminal activity, BBC reported. The aircraft “caught fire after hitting an elevated area,” the report stated, and “signs of gunshot or similar were not observed in the wreckage.” The helicopter had been flying on a “pre-planned route and did not leave the designated flight path,” and “nothing suspicious has been observed in the control tower’s conversations with the flight crew,” the preliminary report said, with the final communication of the control tower with the president’s helicopter being recorded about 90 seconds before the crash.