The outcome could have been different chas v�sholom as a large bird slammed into the plane. The Arkia Airline crew decided on the unscheduled landing in the air force�s Uvda Base. There were no injuries among the 72 military personnel on board.

After landing they were able to assess the damage to the plane�s body. Officials report there was no danger to the crew at any time and stress the landing was unscheduled but not an emergency landing.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)