A tragic helicopter crash killed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and several important officials, highlighting past incidents where world leaders also died in air accidents.
On Sunday evening, a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and Tabriz Friday Prayer Leader Hojjatoleslam Al Hashem crashed.
Everyone on board died, while rescue teams found the wreckage, causing a significant loss for Iran.
This incident brings to mind other leaders who died in air crashes. Here are some of them:
Abdul Salam Arif
Iraq’s President Abdul Salam Arif died on April 13, 1966, when his plane crashed near Basra. His brother, Abdul Rahman Arif, became president after him.
René Barrientos Ortuño
Bolivia’s President René Barrientos Ortuño died in a helicopter crash on April 27, 1969. Some thought it might have been an assassination, but it was never proven.
José Félix Estigarribia
Paraguay’s President José Félix Estigarribia died in a plane crash in 1940. His plane went down in Altos, Paraguay.
Ramon Magsaysay
Philippines’ President Ramon Magsaysay died on March 17, 1957, when his plane crashed into Mount Manunggal in Cebu. Only one person out of 25 on board survived.
Samora Moisés Machel
Mozambique’s President Samora Moisés Machel died on October 19, 1986, when his plane crashed near the South African border. The cause of the crash is still unclear.
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
Pakistan’s President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq died on August 17, 1988, in a plane crash shortly after takeoff from Bahawalpur.
