Missing helicopter carrying the Iranian president, a sturdy workhorse in the sky – Firstpost

Al Jazeera reported that the images and videos confirm that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions rode in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter. Manufactured by Bell Textron Inc., an American aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the Bell 212 is one of the iconic models that make it an important part of the Bell Textron helicopter lineup.

The Bell 212 was first introduced in the late 1960s as an evolution of the Bell 205 and quickly established itself as a workhorse in the helicopter industry. With its twin-engine configuration, it offered increased power and reliability compared to its predecessor, making it well suited for a wide range of missions, including utility transport, search and rescue, firefighting and military operations.

Despite its reputation for ruggedness and reliability, the Bell 212 has unfortunately been involved in several notable accidents over the years.

One such incident occurred in 1997 when a Bell 212 helicopter operated by Petroleum Helicopters crashed off the coast of Louisiana, resulting in the tragic loss of eight lives. The helicopter was conducting a routine offshore transport mission when a mechanical failure occurred that led to a catastrophic outcome.

In another incident in 2009, a Bell 212 helicopter operated by Cougar Helicopters crashed off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, killing 17 of the 18 people on board. The helicopter was en route to an offshore oil platform when an oil pressure loss occurred in one of the engines, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing in the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Despite their efforts, only one survivor was found in what would become one of Canada’s deadliest helicopter crashes in recent history.

Although modern helicopters are equipped with advanced safety features and undergo strict maintenance procedures, accidents can still occur due to factors such as mechanical failure, adverse weather conditions, human error, or a combination of these factors. There could be other reasons too, such as action by hostile forces. Normally, helicopter accidents are complex events that often involve multiple factors.

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