From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
IDF resumes training flights for AS565 Panther helicopters grounded after crash
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
More than two months after two Israeli pilots were killed in a helicopter crash off the coast of Haifa, the Israel Defense Forces says its grounded fleet of AS565 Panther helicopters is resuming training flights.
The IDF says the move comes following recommendations from a team of experts who are probing the crash.
The AS565 Panther helicopter, known by the IAF as the “Atalef,” or bat, is a 25-year-old aircraft primarily used for missions at sea.
It will resume operational use in a “gradual and safe manner,” the IDF says.
Lt. Col. Erez Sachyani and Maj. Chen Fogel were killed when a broken blade within the left motor sparked a fire and led to the aircraft striking the water forcefully on January 3 this year, according to the probe.
A third officer on board, Cpt. Ron Birman, managed to jump out and was rescued with relatively minor injuries.
The Times of Israel Community.