Breaking: 6 Americans, 1 Czech and 1 French Citizen Killed in a Helicopter Crash in Egypt
Seven military members of a peacekeeping force in Egypt, including 6 Americans, died in a helicopter crash in the southern Sinai Peninsula. The other two victims were a French and Czech nationals. One American survived the crash, which happened in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh.
“There is no information to indicate the crash was anything except an accident,” said the coalition force.
The peacekeeping force, known as the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), oversees the peace agreement reached between Egypt and Israel as part of the Camp David Accords of 1978; it consists of around 1,150 personnel from 13 countries, including about 450 Americans. Its responsibilities include monitoring troop levels along the border and ensuring the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Tiran.
The MFO is based in Rome and is not linked to the United Nations. Thirteen countries contribute troops to its mission, including Australia, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Britain and Uruguay.
