Israeli navy helicopter crash due to technical malfunction: Israeli official

Zionist regime's army claimed the crash of a navy helicopter that killed two crew members was due to a serious technical malfunction, local media reported late Tuesday, reported by Anadolu News Agency.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Brigadier General Amir Lazar, head of the Israeli Air Force's Training Department, said the crash late Monday off the coast of Haifa in northern of the occupied territories was likely due to a fire that broke out in the left engine.

The military helicopter was carrying two Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) pilots and a patrol officer.

The officer was rescued shortly after the crash and was flown to Rambam Hospital in moderate condition while the two pilots were discovered after a lengthy search but died despite resuscitation efforts.

The reason the two pilots were unable to exit the aircraft as well as the exact cause of their deaths remain unclear for the time being.