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Jerusalem - Funeral services of two of the six airmen killed in a helicopter crash in Romania earlier this week have taken place Friday.

On Friday morning (July 30), a Boeing aircraft carrying the six bodies of the personnel killed in the IAF ‘Yasur’ (CH-53) helicopter crash in Romani landed in the Tel Nof airbase.

Speaking at the funeral of Lieutenant Nir Lakrif in Haifa, Lakrif’s wife Maggie Malul said “my love, we are bidding farewell in your way, through the sky.”

“I promise that I will bravely perform the task that you bequeathed me, I will bring up our small one as you were brought up,” Malul, who is four-months pregnant, said, adding that she expected Lakrif to “watch over her all the time and be with me as you are now.”

Lakrif’s father added at the funeral, which was attended by Israel Defense Forces officers as well as Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon, that his son left “a vacuum which will never be filled.”

The IAF Yasur helicopters returned Thursday night (July 29) from Romania to Israel, but the return of all troops will be completed in a gradual manner over the next few days. An IAF Boeing aircraft took off on Thursday from Israel to the IAF base in Romania, in order to bring home the coffins of the IDF soldiers who perished in the helicopter crash.

Some of the IDF personnel who died in the crash were promoted posthumously as follows: Lt. Col. Daniel Shipenbauer was promoted to the rank of Colonel; Lt. Nir Lakrif was promoted to the rank of Captain; Sergeant 1st Class Oren Cohen was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant Major.
All six men will be buried in different military cemeteries located throughout Israel
“Today, we are bidding farewell to six of our best soldiers. They are the pride of the IAF and of the people of Israel, but to my sorrow, their loss is as great as the pride they inspired”, said IDF Manpower Directorate Commander, Maj. Gen. Avi Zamir, upon the return to Israel of the bodies of the Yasur helicopter crash victims.

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