Light Aircraft Crash in Wadi Ara Leaves One Dead and One Injured

A light aircraft crash in Wadi Ara on Friday morning left one person dead and another moderately injured.

The 34-year-old survivor was rescued suffering from burns and evacuated to Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. The crash triggered a brush fire that spread toward homes in Kafr Qara.

The incident was reported at 09:12 to the Magen David Adom (MDA) 101 emergency dispatch center in the Sharon region. Medics and paramedics rushed to the scene.

MDA paramedic Ayman Arnaout stated: "The man was rescued and brought to us in moderate condition with burns on his limbs. We provided him with life-saving medical treatment and are evacuating him in an MDA intensive care mobile unit to Rambam Hospital." Preliminary reports indicated one person trapped in the aircraft was critically injured, but his death was later confirmed.

Numerous police officers from the Iron station secured the area. Police stated: "Following the incident, Route 65 was closed to vehicular traffic in the area, and officers are directing drivers to alternative routes. The public is urged to avoid the area and follow police instructions." After firefighters brought the blazes under control, the road was reopened.

The Fire and Rescue Services' Coastal District spokesperson reported: "At 09:13, a report was received at the Coastal command center regarding an aircraft crash in an open area near Kafr Qara. According to preliminary reports, the aircraft crashed in an open area and subsequently caught fire. Firefighters from the Hadera station were dispatched and are working to locate the site and reach the center of the incident."

Following the crash, the ensuing fire spread to a nearby grove. Fire and Rescue authorities noted that forces were divided, with one team operating near the aircraft while other firefighters worked to contain the brush fire and prevent it from reaching nearby homes.