Pilot Identified as Cause of Helicopter Crash Carrying Minister of Sports

The Director General of Accident Investigation at the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization announced that the pilot was responsible for the recent helicopter crash that carried the Minister of Sports and Youth of the Islamic Republic. According to domestic media, Hassan Rezaeifar stated that the helicopter, which was not under the supervision of this organization, experienced 'vibration and deviation to the left' while landing at an altitude of 'about 10 meters above ground' with a total of 20 occupants (crew and passengers). He noted that 'the statements of the pilots' indicated that the pilot was hesitant in attempting to 'control the helicopter,' but his actions were 'unsuccessful.' This official from the Iranian aviation sector further claimed that no 'technical problem' was found during the investigation, and the 'cause of the accident' was attributed to human error (the pilot), with 'managerial decision-making' and 'failure to fasten passengers' seatbelts' also being 'contributing factors.' The 'MIL.171' helicopter of the Iranian Red Crescent crashed on February 23, 2023, while transporting Hamid Sajjadi, the Minister of Sports and Youth, and his companions from Rabar County in Kerman to Baft County, resulting in the death of one person (Ismail Ahmadi, advisor to the minister and director of the ministerial office) and serious injuries to '10 others,' including the minister. During those days, the use of the 'Red Crescent helicopter' for transporting a government official faced reactions from social media users. The aviation sector in Iran is facing numerous challenges due to punitive sanctions and a negative outlook on the future of its severely aging passenger, commercial, and military fleets, and officials have emphasized the role of 'human factors' in various aviation incidents in recent years.