An Air Force Shoval-type drone engaged in routine activity was shot down over the sea due to an engine malfunction on Saturday. IAF helicopters searched for its remains in the sea between Tel Aviv and Netanya.
Web surfers reported that illuminating bombs were fired over coastal cities as part of the search.
Illuminating bomb over Netanya (Photo: Roni Gil-Ad)
Shoval is one of Israel's largest and most advanced drones.
The IAF has launched an investigation to discover out the reason for the malfunction. It was also decided to ground all Shoval UAVs.
The IDF stressed this is not the first time the IAF downs a drone in a controlled manner.
Last year, an Eitan-type Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Israel 'slargest drone, crashed near Moshav Yesodot. There were no injuries.
The investigation showed the incident was apparently the result of both a human error and a technical malfunction. The drone apparently crashed after one of its wings fell off, according to the initial investigation.