Plane crashes in Eilat; 1 killed, 2 injured
Light plane crashes near city airport. One man dies, two sustain moderate to serious injuries
A man died and two sustained moderate to serious injuries as a result of plane crash near Eilat. According to Magen David Adom, the man who was dead was in his early 50s.
The two who were injured were evacuated to the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba.
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Dr. Uri Netz, a surgeon at the Soroka Medical Center said that "one of the injured has fractures in his limbs. He will be transferred to a surgical wing. The other one is in serious condition – he has multiple fractures in his entire body and internal wounds. He has undergone a series of exams and is to be taken to the operating room."
The doctor added that though the latter's condition was stable, he was still at risk.
Photo: Yair Sagi
Photo: Yair Sagi
Photo: Yair Sagi
Photo: Yair Sagi
Wounded passenger evacuated to Soroka (Photo: Herzel Yosef)
The plane crashed between the city airport and an Eilat shopping center. Magen David Adom paramedics and firefighters arrived at the scene.
The cause of the crash has yet to be revealed, but according to a preliminary investigation, strong wind may have caused the pilot to lose control of the plane. The investigation team, with the Transportation Ministry, is to return to the scene at dawn to examine the plane.
Prior to the accident, the pilot declared emergency status and the plane was seen in a dive toward the ground.
The airport was closed to takeoffs and landings until rescue services, which were dispatched to the scene of the accident, returned.
The plane, which carried a pilot and two passengers, took off from Herzliya and at the time of the crash, was preparing for landing.
The fire rescue teams which arrived on the scene sprayed foam on the plane to prevent it from catching fire.
"I heard about the crash on the news and immediately thought it must be my brother," said the sister of one of the men who were injured. She added the family rushed to the hospital.
"From what we understand he's okay. He had fractures and maybe a concussion. Hopefully that's it," the sister added.
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