Alaa Agabriya. Fell from IAF helicopter
באדיבות אתר panet.co.il
IDF: Unprofessional action led to botched rescue
Family of young man killed when he fell off stretcher held by helicopter into mine field during Unit 669 rescue operation receives report of military investigation
More than a year after the death during a botched Israel Air Force rescue operation, the Israel Defense Forces notified the late young man's family that unprofessional activity by Unit 669 during led to their son's death, as he fell off the stretcher being transported by a helicopter into a mine field, where he was fatally wounded when a mine detonated.
Family members of Alaa Agabriya, 24 at his death, arrived at the Air Force headquarters in order to receive the final report on the investigation of the incident that lead to their son's death.
Before receiving the report, Alaa's father, Muhammad, told Ynet, "I have hope, I believe in the State's laws. Justice will be revealed. We want to know what happened and why, and we know there was a mistake which cannot be covered up."
The IDF presented the family with the summary of the military investigation into the accident. The officers updated the family that the investigation found that the direct factor leading to the tragedy was unprofessional action taken by the Unit 669 rescue team along with the absence of necessary work procedures.
"Contributing to this is a faulty understanding on behalf of the Air Force and the IDF regarding the unique complexity and danger in the aerial rescue operation from a mine field," said the officers.
The IDF also reported, "The main recommendations of the investigation revolve around improving training and drill processes for this complex procedure, updating the combat and technique doctrine regarding rescue operations with a helicopter from a mine field."
The family was also updated that "disciplinary steps were taken against Air Force members who played a role in the rescue operation and in whose professional actions were found to be defective. The IDF is sorry for the family's loss and will stand by its side as much as possible."
