"Hard Landing"

[George K]

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/helicopter-iranian-presidents-convoy-accident-says-strate-tv-2024-05-19/

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister made a rough landing on Sunday as it was crossing a mountainous area in heavy fog on the way back from a visit to Azerbaijan, Iranian news agencies said.

The bad weather was complicating rescue efforts, the state news agency IRNA reported. The semi-official Fars news agency urged Iranians to pray for Raisi and state TV carried prayers for his safety.

IRNA said the helicopter in question had been carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and local officials.

Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi told state TV only that one of the helicopters in a group of three had come down hard, and that authorities were awaiting further details.

"An Iranian official told Reuters: “The lives of President Raisi and the Foreign Minister are in danger following a helicopter accident.”"

[George K]

What are the odds that Iran will blame Israel?

[Mik]

Mountains, heavy fog and a helicopter. What could go wrong?

[Jolly]

@George-K said in "Hard Landing":

What are the odds that Iran will blame Israel?

Probably.

And they would probably be right.

[George K]

[LuFins Dad]

Oh boy.

[Mik]

The same factors that made it a risky flight would make it awfully difficult for it to be Israel. I find it hard to believe they’d target the president.

[Renauda]

@Mik

I agree.

Although Raisi is (or maybe was) a cleric which alone is as good as any reason to snuff him. The Foreign Minister on the other hand, was very close to the Quds Force and Revolutionary Guard.

[Mik]

Don’t get me wrong, I’d be pleased as punch to see the entire Iranian regime sent to paradise. While a lovely thought, it’s not a viable strategy.

[George K]

Will anything change? Prolly not.

[Renauda]

No, the Ayatollahs will blame Israel and the US while their ally, Putin, will take it all out on the Ukrainians and blame NATO.

Business as usual.

[taiwan_girl]

[Renauda]

@taiwan_girl

As the song should have gone:

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss
Will get fooled again.

[Mik]

I wonder how the mullahs get around…..

[Renauda]

@Mik

Armoured carpets and Halal camels

[George K]

What is a halal camel?

(asking for a Mohammeden friend, of course)

[Mik]

Just another hump.

[Renauda]

@George-K said in "Hard Landing":

What is a halal camel?

(asking for a Mohammeden friend, of course)

Opposite of a haram camel.

[kluurs]

No survivors per WSJ

[bachophile]

latest ( i kid you not) voices in the iranian government blaming the US for the crash, because sanctions preventing the Iranian airfoce from stocking parts for old american bell choppers (the bird that went down was an american bell 212, not a russian Mi helicopter)