An alert control air traffic controller prevented a mid-air disaster during an air force training exercise on Sunday, officials report.

The near-miss occurred over Haifa Airport, where a small plane crashed a number of days ago, killing three. On Sunday, Tisha B’Av, a small cargo plane and a Yasur chopper were only tens of meters from one-another when the alert traffic controller realized what was taken place, averting a midair crash.

Air force officials have ordered an investigation, reporting the preliminary information points to communications difficulties between one of the aircraft and the control tower.

The Office of the IDF Spokesman released a message that two aircraft were close to one-another but at no time was there a risk of collision. Air force command Major-General Ido Nehushtan has ordered an investigation.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)