Romanian search and rescue teams and IDF representatives arrived at the scene of the IAF ‘Yasur’ (CH-53) helicopter crash and have begun to search the area.
No survivors have been found in the area.
The search is ongoing.
Monthly Archives: July 2010
Excerpts from IAF Brig. Gen. (Res.) Relik Shafir Briefing on Helicopter Crash, 27 July 2010
Today, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Relik Shafir, a retired IAF pilot and former commander of the Tel Nof Airforce Base, gave a briefing on the IAF helicopter crash in Romania which occurred yesterday. The following are excerpts from his briefing:
- Yesterday, Monday 26 July 2010, at roughly 14:00, an IAF CH-53 helicopter crashed during a training accident in Romania during a routine exercise. On board the helicopter were 6 Israeli crew members and 1 Romanian officer.
- This routine annual training exercise has been in place since 2004. The exercise takes place with the IAF and dozens of other European and US air forces. Such exercises are standard practice for any airforce and designed to teach pilots to fly in unfamiliar terrain and under different conditions.
- The crash site is in a mountainous region of Romania and rescue forces are still not on the scene. While no bodies have been found yet, those aboard the flight are believed dead.
- The causes of the crash have not been determined yet, although the likelihood of technical failure is low. More probable that there was pilot error or misjudgment due to flying and weather conditions. All of the pilots on board were very experienced. Despite that during the training, the wing man separated from the flight lead and lost sight and contact due to heavy fog.
- In the early hours of the morning an Israeli investigation team departed for Romania on 2 C130 Hercules planes comprised of several dozen people. Brig. Gen. (Res.) Shlomo Mashiach is heading the investigation team, and is accompanied by the squadron commander, a search and rescue team, medical crew, and a rabbinical team who will identify the bodies.
- As is usual after such accidents, there is a standard safety reassessment of all CH-53 helicopters underway, although all operational flights will continue as usual.
- The training exercise was scheduled to be completed on the 29th of July in any event.
Brig. Gen. (Res.) Shafir noted that all of the pilots were not only highly experienced, but were great men. He stated that their probable death was “not only a great loss to their families but to the air force family as well.”
IDF Search and Rescue Delegation Departs for Helicopter Crash Site in Romania
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe2Myl6K3sE]
An IAF ‘Yasur’ (CH-53) helicopter crashed yesterday during an exercise flight in Romania. On board the helicopter were seven personnel including 6 IDF soldiers- four pilots, two aerial mechanics and a Romanian Air Force member.
Approximately 80 IDF delegates were sent to Romania on two Hercules planes to assist in search and rescue efforts. The delegation includes representatives from the IAF, Oketz Canine Unit, Search and Rescue Unit, Rabbinal Corps, Medical Corps, Spokesperson’s Unit.
[slideshow]
Names of the 6 Missing Israeli Personnel on IAF Helicopter, 27 July 2010
The following are the names of the six missing personnel who were on the IAF helicopter that crashed in Romania:
Lt. Col (Res.) Avner Goldman (48), Modi’in
Lt. Col. Daniel Shipenbauer (43), Kidron
Maj. Yahel Keshet (33), Hatzerim
Maj. Lior Shai (28), Tel-Nof
Lt. Nir Lakrif (25), Tel- Nof
Sergeant 1st Class Oren Cohen (24), Rehovot
Pictured below are the six missing Israeli personnel:
Maj. Lior Shai (28), Tel-Nof
Maj. Yahel Keshet (33), Hatzerim
Lt. Nir Lakrif (25), Tel-Nof
Sergeant 1st Class Oren Cohen (24), Rehovot
Lt. Col. (Res.) Avner Goldman (48), Modi'in
Lt. Col. Daniel Shipenbauer (43), Kidron
IAF Helicopter Crashes During Exercise in Romania, 26 July 2010
An IAF ‘Yasur’ (CH-53) helicopter has crashed earlier today during an exercise flight in Romania. On board the helicopter were seven personnel- four pilots, two aerial mechanics and a Romanian Air Force member. Extensive searches are currently taking place on the scene.
Representatives of the IDF have notified the crew members’ families of the incident.
The IAF is preparing for the departure of an airplane to Romania, carrying medical teams, search and rescue teams, etc.
The Commander of the Air Force, Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan has corresponded with his Romanian counterpart, Maj. Gen. Ion- Aurel Stanciu, and has come to an agreement with him regarding a mutual investigation of the incident by both militaries. Heading the Israeli examination team will be an Israeli Air Force Brigadier General.
Photos: Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi Surveys Enlistment of Givati Brigade and Field Intelligence Corps, 26 July 2010
Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, Chief of the General Staff, observes the enlistment of the Givati Brigade and the Field Intelligence Corps yesterday.
Photos of Improvised Weapons Discovered Yesterday on Five Palestinians Near Beit Furik by IDF Reservists, 26 July 2010
Last night, an IDF reservist force prevented a terror attack near Beit Furik, southeast of Nablus. During a routine patrol, the force discovered two improvised weapons, two ready-made firebombs and a knife in the possession of five Palestinians near the town. The weaponry was confiscated and the suspects were transferred to the custody of security forces.
Below are pictures of the confiscated weaponry:
In Response to Rocket and Mortar Fire, IAF Targets Weapons Manufacturing Site and Smuggling Tunnels in Gaza Strip, 26 July 2010
The Israel Air Force struck a weapons manufacturing site in the northern Gaza Strip and two weapons-smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip overnight.
The attack is in response to the rockets and mortar shells that were fired at Israel and hit the southern Negev communities during the past weekend.
More than 100 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israeli territory since the beginning of 2010, and over 350 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the end of operation Cast Lead.
The IDF remains committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and will continue to act against terror. The IDF holds Hamas solely responsible for terror emanating from the Gaza Strip.
IDF Force Prevents Infiltration of Israeli Community Barqan, 22 July 2010
Overnight an IDF force identified a number of Palestinians infiltrating the Israeli community of Barqan. A night-watch that was set by the IDF because of numerous attempts made to infiltrate the community in the past few weeks identified last night’s attempt. The force identified the infiltrators, one of them suspected to be armed and opened fire. One of the infiltrators died as a result, and the other escaped. IDF soldiers have been searching the area.
Following the incident, the Head of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai, contacted the commanders of the Palestinian organizations and called them to conduct a joint investigation into the incident. In addition, messages were delievered to senior Palestinian officials in order to avert tension in the region. The civil administrations’ call for a joint investigation was accepted and a Palestinian representative has already arrived on site. Additional details of the incident are being reviewed.
Terror Operatives Preparing to Fire Rocket Targeted by IDF Force in Northern Gaza Strip, 21 July 2010
IDF soldiers identified a number of suspects preparing to fire a rocket at an IDF force adjacent to the security fence in the Northern Gaza Strip this afternoon. Following identification of the terror operatives, the IDF force fired at, and identified hitting, the operatives. One operative was killed and others were injured.
Additional details of the incident are being reviewed.
In a separate incident in the same area, on June 28th, a terror operative fired an anti-tank missile at IDF soldiers. In response, the IAF targeted the operative.
Nearly 100 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israeli territory since the beginning of 2010, and over 330 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the end of Operation Cast Lead.
The IDF remains committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and will continue to act against terror. The IDF holds Hamas solely responsible for terror emanating from the Gaza Strip.
