JERUSALEM (JNS) – Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi was involved last week in a helicopter accident that could have ended in “disaster,” Channel 12 reported on Wednesday night.
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According to the report, Kochavi was flying on the Black Hawk—a medium-utility, two-engine helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft—when a malfunction occurred immediately after take-off from the Knesset and heading to the Tel Nof Air Force base.
The incident occurred as the pilots performed a drill to alternate engines, but both switched off, causing the aircraft to plummet. The pilots reportedly managed to reactivate one of the engines when the chopper was 30 meters (98.4 feet) from the ground.
Instead of making an emergency landing, as per protocol, they continued the flight with a single engine and landed at their destination as planned.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit says that the incident is being investigated, but that the flight had posed no threat to Kochavi or other passengers, and that it landed safely.