Žatec - Ekron

On May 23, 1948 at 12:00 AM, Žatec - Ekron experienced a crash involving Curtiss C-46 Commando, operated by Israeli Air Force - Heyl Ha'avir, with the event recorded near Latrun Jerusalem District.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 33.3%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was performing a flight from Žatec, Czech Republic, to the airbase of Ekron-Tel Nof, carrying a load of bombs and a Czech fighter aircraft. While descending to Ekron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to divert to Tel Aviv-Sde Dov Airport. On final approach, the aircraft was hit by gun fire. In such conditions, the captain increased power and started a go around to leave the area. Few minutes later, while cruising a low height in reduced visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located south of Latrun. Both pilots were rescued while the navigator was killed. It was later confirmed by the authorities that the soldiers in place in Tel Aviv Airport opened fire on the aircraft as they have not been informed that an aircraft would land.

Aircraft reference details include registration RX-136.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 31.8361°, 34.9878°.