PNN Palestine News Network
ISRAELI pilots were forced to perform an emergency landing on Wednesday after a migrating stork hit their Black Hawk during training, causing tens of thousands of shekels in damage.
It has been reported that the incident caused “extensive damage to the helicopter”.
The condition of the stork is not known. The IOF reported only: “Luckily no one was injured.”
The attack, thought to be an accident, occurred during a training exercise that is taking place across the country.
European White Storks can grow to around a metre tall, and typically weigh between 2 and 4kg. In winter, they are known to congregate in large numbers.
Hundreds of thousands of birds are currently passing through Israel during bird migration season, on their way from Europe to Africa.
The IOF has a system to coordinate flights with the Nature and Parks Authority, which provides a live update of the location and height of the flock
