Shocking Crash Secrets: Greece Unmasks Cause of Deadly Plane Crash That Killed 2 Israelis
A Greek investigation report reveals that the 2021 plane crash killing Israeli couple Haim and Esti Garon off Samos Island was due to human errors and inadequate night-flying training, not mechanical failure. The findings highlight systemic issues in pilot certification and call for safety reforms.
A long-awaited Greek investigation report, released recently, has shed light on the tragic plane crash off the coast of Samos Island that claimed the lives of Israeli couple Haim and Esti Garon nearly four years ago on September 13, 2021. The detailed findings, first exposed by Yoav Itiel, attribute the crash of their small Israeli aircraft near Pythagorio to a series of human errors and inadequate pilot training, ruling out mechanical failure or fuel shortages. The couple, who had hoped to enjoy a serene holiday, perished during a failed landing attempt, leaving behind a stunned family and community.
Haim Garon, a 69-year-old former deputy director of engineering and licensing at the Communications Ministry and a key witness in the 4000 case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was an experienced lawyer and pilot. The report highlights that the crash resulted from a combination of factors: lack of night-flying proficiency, fatigue, psychological stress, and challenging environmental conditions. Despite Garon’s valid pilot license, his night-flight certification had expired months earlier, with less than an hour of night-flight experience logged in the past year. The flight, delayed due to an engine oil leak and expired flight plans, departed from Haifa’s small airport just before noon, arriving at Samos after sunset, a scenario Garon had expressed reluctance to undertake.
The report details that during the approach, Garon approached too high, alerting air traffic control with, “I’m still high,” and requested repeated instructions. A suggested turn over the sea to lose altitude led to a sharp, nearly vertical maneuver, causing a loss of lift and a fatal plunge into the water, captured by nearby vessels. Contributing factors included poor altitude management and Garon’s focus on locating runway lights obscured by ambient illumination, compounded by over seven hours of continuous activity. The investigation found no technical issues but criticized Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority for outdated training assessments and a policy of not sharing prior pilot failures with examiners, alongside the aircraft’s lack of insurance, violating European law. Recommendations include mandatory training checks, revised examiner policies, and clearer night-flight routes for Samos.
Attorney Yigal Levi, a former senior official at the Communications Ministry, lamented, “We, his friends who knew Haim, find it hard to accept the report’s findings. Everyone who knew Haim will attest to how professional and meticulous he was… On top of the pain of their deaths, there’s now the pain of this report’s conclusions.”