Six Israeli soldiers dead in Romania crash

BUCHAREST (Agencies) Six Israeli soldiers and one Romanian were killed Monday when a military helicopter crashed in central Romania, local media said, quoting defense sources.

The defense ministry said six Israeli soldiers and one Romanian were on board but did not confirm their deaths.
Initial media reports had said that U.S. military personnel were on board.
The Israeli transport helicopter CH-53 was flying at low altitude and reportedly lost radio contact mid-afternoon Monday.
Romanian and Israeli troops are taking part in Blue Sky 2010, 11-day joint aviation exercises where troops are trained to fly at low altitude in search, rescue and medical evacuation exercises.
On July 18, the defense ministry said an Israeli CH-53 helicopter participating in the exercice had made a crash landing after “sensing a failure aboard.”