An Israel Air Force (IAF) 'Cobra" helicopter crashed into a wheat field at Kibbutz Revadim in southern Israel during a training flight last night, Israel Army Radio (Galei Tzahal) reports. The wreckage of the helicopter was discovered at first light this morning. There were no survivors of the crash, and the families of the two crew have been notified. The IAF has ordered an enquiry.
The IAFs Cobra fleet has meanwhile been grounded.
According to preliminary investigations, the helicopter crashed on its way back to the Palmahim base from a training flight. Communication with the helicopter was lost at about 1:00 am. A search was launched, and the wreckage and the bodies of the crew were found at about 5:15 am in a field near the Masmiya junction. The helicopter did not catch fire, apparently because of the low quantity of fuel on board.
An IAF source told Channel 2 news that the training flight was completely routine and that the helicopter that led it had returned safely to the Palmahim base, while the helicopter that crashed remained airborne for a further training flight.
The crashed helicopter was a Bell Helicopter Cobra AH-1, known in the IAF as the "Tsefa" ("Viper"). The aircraft is a two-seater.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 12, 2013
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