Two Israeli airmen killed in helicopter training crash
They were identified as Air Force reservists Lt. Col. Noam Ron, 49, from Oranit, and Capt. Erez Flexner, 31, from Herzliya. Their Cobra fighter helicopter crashed on its way back from a training sortie to the Air Force base at Palmachim Monday night – according to initial investigation due to a technical fault. Search parties went out after contact was lost with the crew at one o’clock after midnight. Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel has grounded all Cobra copters for a thorough investigation. The last loss of an Israeli combat helicopter was in August 2010 during a joint maneuver with Romania.