2 killed as light plane they were flying in crashes into southern highway

Fatalities named as Roni and Lilach Shushan; police say aircraft tried to make an emergency landing; rescue services say operations complex due to amount of aviation fuel at scene

By ToI Staff 4 March 2023, 10:25 amUpdated at 4:40 pm 0 Edit

The scene where a light aircraft crashed into Route 60, March 4, 2023. (Courtesy)

Two people were killed after a light aircraft they were flying in crash-landed on a highway in the south on Saturday.

The plane crashed into Route 60 near the Shoket interchange.

The fatalities were later named as Roni, 55, and Lilach Shushan, 51, a couple from the southern town of Lehavim.

No injuries were caused on the ground.

Police said that the plane had attempted to make an emergency landing.

Emergency services said operations at the scene were complicated by the amount of aviation fuel the plane was carrying at the time of the crash.

ההרוגים בהתרסקות המטוס הקל בנגב: רוני ולילך שושן, תושבי להבים

לידיעה המלאה – https://t.co/oT9eM24TrH @bokeralmog pic.twitter.com/SdYNXYTKBb

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Images showed burning wreckage on the highway with a number of cars nearby.

The highway was shut for a number of hours but later reopened.

The Shushan couple were survived by their three children.

The site where a light aircraft crash killed two people in southern Israel, March 4, 2023 (Flash90)

Roni Shushan was senior employee at ICL Group (Israel Chemicals Ltd.), and managed a business at the Beersheba high-tech park. Lilach Shushan was deputy CFO at Dolav Plastic Products.

According to Channel 13 news, the plane was jointly owned by the couple and Pini Badash, head of the Omer local council.