2 IDF choppers make emergency landing in Romania
A close call: A week after helicopter fatal crash in Romania that killed six Israeli soldiers, two IDF Sea Stallions request permission to land in field outside Bucharest due to malfunction. No injuries reported
A week after a deadly helicopter crash that left six IDF soldiers dead in Romania, Two Israeli Air Force Sea Stallion choppers were forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday morning near the Romanian village of Arges, outside of Bucharest,.
The incident was reported in a statement issued by the Romanian Defense Ministry. In the statement, the Romanian Defense Ministry said the two pilots requested permission to land in the field due to a malfunction. The incident took place around 9 am and Romanian rescue teams were dispatched to the scene. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Romania's Defense Ministry later said "military' authorities have contacted the choppers' crews in order to help them fix the technical malfunctions and resume the flight."
The IDF did not immediately issue its own official statement.Meanwhile, Israel's embassy in Romania said that the two helicopters are expected to continue their training session.
Villagers call authorities
An IDF source said a warning light went off in one of the helicopters, indicating the possibility of a malfunction that requires a check.
"Hence, in line with routine procedure, the chopper landed in order to look into the incident," the source said.
The second helicopter reportedly landed along with the first one "for safety reasons only."
The commander of the Romanian emergency investigation team, Colonel Ion Popa, said the police received an emergency call from several village residents about the helicopters that landed in the field.
"I was told that the helicopters did not need our assistance. We sent investigators to the area," he said.
