IDF Pilots Killed Were ‘Best of Us’

Stand for Israel  |  January 4, 2022

Yesterday, Stand for Israel told you about an IDF helicopter crash in the sea off the Holy Land, noting that at least one of the crew of three survived. Today, The Times of Israel’s Luke Tress reports that the aircraft’s two pilots did not survive, two heroes that PM Bennett called “two sons, two pilots, some of our best”:

Prime Minister Naftali Bennet said two military pilots who were killed in a helicopter crash were “the best of us” on Tuesday morning.

The pilots died in a training accident off the coast of northern Israel on Monday night.

The two were later named as Lt.-Col. Erez Sachyani and and Major Chen Fogel. Their families have been notified, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement…

“This is a very sad night. On behalf of the citizens of Israel, I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in the helicopter accident and a swift recovery for the injured officer,” Bennett said.

“The air force pilots who were lost in the accident were among the best of us. The people of Israel will not forget their contribution, day and night, to our national security,” Bennet said in a statement.

In a separate statement Tuesday afternoon, Bennett said: “We had a difficult night and this is a difficult day for Israel. We lost two sons, two pilots, some of our best, in an accident at sea. I share in the grief of the families for the loss of Lt. Col. Erez Sachyani and Maj. Chen Fogel, men who gave their lives for Israel’s security, day after day, night after night.”

Please remember the loved ones of these two brave IDF members in your prayers, as well as the injured serviceman, that he recovers fully.