IAF drone crashes at sea opposite Ashkelon
IDF aircraft in flight during IAF training crashes at sea. Crash most likely due to technical malfunction
An Israeli Air Force Hermes 450 drone crashed at sea off the coast of Ashkelon on Tuesday.
The wreckage was picked up over the last several hours by the Navy and will be examined in the course of the incident's investigation.
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The IDF 's preliminary estimate is that the drone crashed due to a technical malfunction in the engine. The drone is considered an advanced aircraft and is one of the IAF's largest drones, used for intelligence operations.
The drone that crashed was in flight as part of an IAF training.
The Hermes 450 is one of the largest drones the IAF possesses, which was used in the Second Lebanon War.
According to UK's The Economist, the Hermes 450 drone was used in 2012 to kill Ahmed Jabari, the Hamas military chief of staff.
In July, an IAF drone was landed by its operators as a result of a technical malfunction. The IDF combed the region and found the drone near the Israel-Egypt border.
The IDF combed the region and found the drone near the Israel-Egypt border.
In May, an Air Force Shoval-type drone engaged in routine activity was shot down over the sea due to an engine malfunction. IAF helicopters searched for its remains in the sea between Tel Aviv and Netanya.
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