Today (Tuesday), the head of the Air Force, Brigadier General Amir Lazar, addressed in a briefing to reporters the reasons that led to the crash of the "bat" plane yesterday off the coast of Haifa and the deaths of two Air Force pilots, Major Chen Fogel and Lt. Col. Erez.
Brigadier General Lazar said the crew experienced a malfunction in the left engine, where a fire broke out. Also, the head of an air squad told of the moments when the officer who survived the crash reported to his commanders and his attempts to save the two pilots.
"The main direction at the moment is that at some point back in the landing the crew experienced a serious malfunction, apparently of a fire in the left engine, which caused the plane to make an emergency landing on the sea," he explained.
"It is possible that during the ignition of the motors, wires were burned which resulted in them not having electricity - and therefore could not report their condition in contact."
Rescue efforts following the helicopter crash near the shores of Haifa // Credit: IDF Spokesman
"Despite the serious mishap they were able to get the plane for a relatively safe cruise and that is probably what managed to get the Navy officer to rescue himself," said Brigadier General Lazar.
He contacted the squadron commander via his personal phone and updated him on the accident. "
Despite the publication of the initial findings of the investigation, the head of the Air Force emphasizes that the circumstances of the pilots' deaths have not yet been clarified.
"We are focusing on technical analysis of the malfunction, and we still do not know what caused the deaths of the pilots. Although the crew was able to reach a floating landing (from the language of buoyancy) - it is not yet clear why the pilots were unable to escape."
Lazar also announced that Air Force Commander Amikam Nurkin has instructed to return to operations in addition to the bat formation.
The investigation team was instructed to bring interim conclusions soon.
Thousands at the funeral of Major Chen Fogel who was killed in the helicopter crash
Meanwhile, thousands escorted the pilot, Major Chen Fogel, 27, from Haifa, who was killed in the helicopter crash.
The funeral was attended by Minister Nachman Shai, Air Force Commander Major General Amikam Nurkin and Navy Commander Major General David Saar Selma.
Vogel is survived by his parents, Yaron and Irit, two brothers, Matan and Shachar, and a partner named Lilach - whom he planned to marry soon.
"He did not want to possess a weapon, he avoided it," said Vogel's father, Yaron.
"Therefore he will streamline his way to serve in Navy helicopters so that he did not have to carry out offensive operations. He came to be a pilot because of his values, because of his love for the country."
Major Chen Fogel and Lt. Col. Erez Shachami who were killed in the crash of a "bat" helicopter off the coast of Haifa, Photo: IDF Spokesman Michel Dot Com
"We did not think he would fall from a helicopter, of course there is the apprehension but we were more apprehensive about the trips he made every day to the streets, from a car accident," Vogel said, adding: "Yesterday we had an ongoing nightmare until the news came. I do not blame anyone, but we saw the reports and failed To get no one and no one agreed to talk to us, until the news of the bad news arrived. "
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