According to information obtained from security sources, following the receipt of the news that the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian had crashed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Ministry of National Defense at 20:00 on May 19 of Iran's request for assistance with a night-vision search and rescue helicopter.
Subsequently, a Coguar-type helicopter immediately departed from Diyarbakir to Van.
While preparations were underway for Iran's helicopter request, at 22:20, the Ministry of National Defense obtained presidential approval for the use of a UAV abroad.
Considering the possibility that the helicopter might not be able to fly due to adverse weather conditions, it was communicated to the Iranian side through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the AKINCI UAV, with its high detection and visibility capabilities in night and adverse weather conditions, could conduct search and detection, and that operations could commence immediately if requested.
After the Iranian authorities accepted the offer of the AKINCI UAV, an unarmed AKINCI UAV took off from Batman at 23:30, reached the crash site at 00:45, and began operations.
At 02:36, visual contact was made with the downed helicopter, and the coordinates of the wreckage were relayed to the Iranian authorities.
The information obtained during reconnaissance and surveillance in the crash area was shared instantly with the Iranian authorities.
Coordination was maintained continuously with all state institutions and through attachés with the Iranian authorities.
The AKINCI UAV, having successfully completed its mission, returned to Turkish airspace at 06:45.
