An Israel Air Force Apache helicopter lands across from a Greek mountain range during a joint Israel-Greece exercise with the Hellenic Air Force in October 2011. (photo credit:IAF)
On Monday, an Israeli A-model Apache helicopter crashed near the Ramon Air Force base in the south of Israel with two crew members inside.
One pilot, 43-year-old Maj. David Zohar, died in the incident. Another one was injured and evacuated from the crash site to a hospital in Be’er Sheva.
The helicopter was on its way back to the air base after a training flight when a technical malfunction took place. The helicopter crashed near the landing pad.
In June, two Apache squadrons were grounded after the discovery of a large crack in the back rotor blade of one of the helicopters. In July, the helicopters returned to active service after the inspection.
The Israeli Defense Forces launched investigations and once again grounded the Apache squadrons.
