Chopper crash in Egypt’s Sinai: Toll rises to eight, one badly injured, says peacekeeping force

Jerusalem: The worldwide drive that displays the Israeli-Egyptian peace settlement mentioned on Thursday that eight peacekeepers, together with six People, have been killed when one in all its helicopters crashed throughout a routine mission in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. A ninth peacekeeper was badly injured.

The Multinational Power and Observers mentioned a French peacekeeper and Czech member of the drive have been additionally killed. It didn’t launch the names of the useless, pending notification of their households. It mentioned the injured peacekeeper was American.

The MFO mentioned the helicopter crashed throughout a routine mission close to Sharm el-Sheikh, a well-liked Egyptian resort metropolis on the Purple Sea, and that an investigation was underway. It didn’t give a exact location of the crash or say whether or not the helicopter fell on land or crashed into the ocean.

An Egyptian official talking on situation of anonymity per rules mentioned the helicopter crashed over Purple Sea waters exterior Egyptian territorial boundaries.

Islamic militant teams and a regional affiliate of the Islamic State group are identified to be lively in Sinai. However the MFO mentioned there have been no indicators of an assault. “At this level, there isn’t a info to point the crash was something besides an accident,” it mentioned.

An Israeli official mentioned the injured peacekeeper was airlifted by the peacekeeping drive to the Israeli border metropolis of Eilat. From there, he was flown to an Israeli hospital. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not approved to debate the matter.

Israel’s Overseas Ministry launched an announcement expressing its “deepest sorrow,” and saying the MFO is “extremely regarded for its work.” “I ship my honest condolences to the households of these killed and need a speedy restoration to the entire wounded,” mentioned Overseas Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.

The Czech Republic’s navy confirmed one of many fatalities of the Black Hawk’s crash was a Czech. It mentioned the reason for the crash was a technical malfunction and added that the survivor is in vital situation. The chief of the Czech Military’s common workers, Normal Ales Opata, expressed his condolences and recognized the Czech sufferer in a Fb put up as Sgt. Main Michaela Ticha.

The MFO displays the four-decade-old peace settlement between Israel and Egypt. 13 nations contribute troops to the MFO, with america making up the most important contingent. Its duties embrace monitoring troop ranges alongside the border and making certain the liberty of navigation by means of the Strait of Tiran.