TEHRAN, Iran — On Monday, an Iranian commander from the Revolutionary Guard and his pilot tragically lost their lives in an autogiro accident while conducting operations near the border with Pakistan, as reported by state television.

The state media disclosed that the fatal incident claimed the life of General Hamid Mazandarani during a military mission in the Sirkan border region, which is situated in the Sistan and Baluchistan province.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency further elaborated that the incident transpired while the team was participating in a military drill.

An autogiro, which shares similarities in rotor design with a helicopter but is generally smaller and less complex, is commonly utilized in Iran for pilot training purposes as well as for monitoring activities along borders. These aircraft are designed to accommodate two individuals.