The IDF spokesman today (Friday) published the findings of the interim report of the team of experts established after the ‘Owl’ helicopter crash, which was presented to the head of the Air Force, Major General Tomer Bar and the families of those who lost their lives. injury The report was given by the head of the expert team, Lt. Col. (Res.) C.
On the night of September 11, 2024, an “Owl” helicopter from Squadron 123 (“Desert Birds”) crashed during landing, as part of an operational flight to evacuate a seriously injured person from the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip. As a result of the accident, the late Advanced Sergeant Daniel Elosh and the late Senior Sergeant Tom Ish Shalom, soldiers from Unit 669 (the special rescue tactical unit) were killed and seven other members of the team were injured. The helicopter was heavily damaged.
From the findings of the report it appears that the team was launched at 00:21 to evacuate a seriously injured person from an airfield in the Rafah area a seriously injured person, and an injured person in challenging night visibility conditions, dust and complex airspace. As the report shows, the challenging conditions in the dark night, combined with dust, caused a loss of eye contact with the ground, which led to a high probability of incorrect spatial orientation.
In addition, it appears that the incident was not caused by enemy fire, and the influence of unusual technical elements on the occurrence of the incident was ruled out. Also, the team is fit for the job.
From the moment the helicopter fell, a multi-casualty incident was announced and the ground forces under the command of Brigadier General Givati ten minutes, at the At the end the injured were transferred to the Soroka hospital using Air Force attack helicopters With their work, the ground forces prevented worse outcomes at the event.
The Chief of the Air Force, Major General Tomer Bar, received the findings of the investigation and the recommendations of the investigation team to continue the investigation process and to immediately implement the lessons that emerged from the interim report, in terms of improving the safety of the system. evacuation guidelines and mitigation of difficult situations. .
In the words of the head of the Air Force, Colonel Tomer Bar: “This is a fatal operational accident in the war, in which two soldiers of Unit 669, Major General (in charge) Daniel Elosh and Major General (in charge) who fell last Tom Ish Shalom, They arrived to save a wounded man who required emergency evacuation from the Strip These operations saved hundreds of combatants during the war.
