Wednesday, January 22, 2025
15.0°F

Officials: 7 peacekeepers killed in Sinai helicopter crash

Josef Federman | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 2 months AGO
by Josef Federman
| November 12, 2020 6:18 AM

JERUSALEM (AP) — A helicopter belonging to an international peacekeeping force crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Thursday, killing at least seven people including several Americans, an Israeli and an Egyptian official said. Both sides said the crash appeared to be an accident.

The Israeli official said that five Americans were among the dead. The other victims were French and Czech.

Israeli and Egyptian officials said one survivor was being airlifted to an Israeli hospital. An Egyptian official said the UH-60 Black Hawk was on a reconnaissance mission and crashed near the island of Tiran.

The peacekeeping force flew the survivor into the resort of Eilat, Israel, from where he was then taken by an Israeli copter to a hospital further north.

Both sides said the crash appeared to be caused by a technical failure and there were no signs of the aircraft being attacked. Islamic militant groups affiliated with the Islamic State group are known to be active in Sinai.

The helicopter belonged to the Multinational Force and Observers, an international force that monitors the 40-year-old peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.

Thirteen countries contribute troops to the MFO, with the United States making up the largest contingent. Its responsibilities include monitoring troop levels along the border and ensuring the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Tiran.

Both the Israeli and the Egyptian official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media on the matter. Officials from the peacekeeping force had no immediate comment pending the outcome of an investigation.

___

Associated Press writers Samy Magdy and Noha ElHennawy in Cairo contributed to this report.

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Peacekeeping force says 8 killed in Egypt helicopter crash
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 2 months ago
Peacekeeping force says 7 killed in Egypt helicopter crash
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 2 months ago
Army identifies 5 Americans killed in Egypt helicopter crash
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 2 months ago

ARTICLES BY JOSEF FEDERMAN

August 18, 2021 12:03 a.m.

Israel condemns Poland restitution law, recalls top diplomat

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Israel on Saturday condemned Poland’s approval of a law that restricts the rights of Holocaust survivors or their descendants to reclaim property seized by the country’s former communist regime and announced it was recalling its top diplomat in protest.

August 17, 2021 12:06 a.m.

Israel condemns Poland restitution law, recalls top diplomat

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Israel on Saturday condemned Poland’s approval of a law that restricts the rights of Holocaust survivors or their descendants to reclaim property seized by the country’s former communist regime and announced it was recalling its top diplomat in protest.

August 16, 2021 12:03 a.m.

Israel condemns Poland restitution law, recalls top diplomat

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Israel on Saturday condemned Poland’s approval of a law that restricts the rights of Holocaust survivors or their descendants to reclaim property seized by the country’s former communist regime and announced it was recalling its top diplomat in protest.