Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi tragically died on May 20 when his helicopter crashed in the mountains near east Azerbaijan. Raisi, who was set to become Iran's next supreme leader, was known for his hardline stance on morality and governance. Al Jazeera confirmed that Raisi and his companions were aboard the Bell 212 during the crash.
The helicopter involved in the crash was manufactured by US-based Bell Textron Inc., an aerospace company in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bell 212, introduced in the late 1960s, is renowned for its reliability and versatility, often used in utility transport, search and rescue, firefighting, and military operations.
Despite its strong reputation, the Bell 212 has been involved in several significant accidents, reported the Free Press Journal.
In 1997, a Bell 212 operated by Petroleum Helicopters crashed off the coast of Louisiana, killing eight people. Another tragic incident occurred in 2009, when a Bell 212 operated by Cougar Helicopters crashed off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, resulting in 17 fatalities.
Also watch: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter crash site revealed in first images