{"data":{"id":"fact_40acib77oi","thread":{"slug":"usa-iran","title":"USA–Iran Confrontation"},"occurredAt":"2024-05-19T12:00:00.000Z","recordedAt":"2026-09-02T03:38:27.579Z","title":"Iranian President Raisi and Foreign Minister Killed in Helicopter Crash","body":"On 19 May 2024, an Iranian Air Force Bell 212 helicopter crashed near Uzi, East Azerbaijan, Iran, killing President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and six others. The helicopter was part of a convoy returning from the Giz Galasi Dam to Tabriz. Search teams located the wreckage after an overnight operation hampered by weather. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced five days of mourning and appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as acting president.","location":"near Uzi, East Azerbaijan, Iran","actors":["Ebrahim Raisi","Hossein Amir-Abdollahian","Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force","Ali Khamenei","Mohammad Mokhber"],"verdict":"VERIFIED","verdictNote":"Multiple reputable sources, including AP, NPR, and Reuters via Asahi Shimbun, consistently report that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash on 19 May 2024 in East Azerbaijan province. The crash occurred near the village of Uzi, and all eight occupants were killed. The sources agree on the date, location, and fatalities, with no credible contradictions.","sources":[{"url":"https://apnews.com/live/helicopter-iranian-president-crash","title":"Iran’s president killed in helicopter crash, election set for next month","publisher":"Associated Press News","retrievedAt":"2026-09-02"},{"url":"https://laist.com/npr-news/irans-president-ebrahim-raisi-dies-in-helicopter-crash-state-media-reports","title":"Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi dies in helicopter crash, state media reports","publisher":"LAist","retrievedAt":"2026-09-02"},{"url":"https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15273218","title":"Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi killed in helicopter crash, official says","publisher":"The Asahi Shimbun","retrievedAt":"2026-09-02"},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Varzaqan_helicopter_crash","title":"2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash","publisher":"Wikipedia","retrievedAt":"2026-09-02"}],"tags":["helicopter-crash","iran","ebrahim-raisi","hossein-amir-abdollahian","east-azerbaijan"],"views":2,"updatedAt":"2026-09-03T00:11:42.364Z","media":[],"relatedFactIds":[],"url":"/fact/fact_40acib77oi"}}