Families, communities devastated by helicopter crash

The two Israel Air Force pilots killed in a training accident overnight Monday were laid to rest on Wednesday. Lt. Col. Noam Ron, 49, and Maj. Erez Flekser, 30, were killed when their Cobra helicopter crashed near the city of Gedera, in central Israel, leaving their families devastated and communities in mourning.

'Whatever he touched he succeeded in'

Maj. Erez Flekser was born and raised in Haifa. About a year and a half ago he married his wife, Meirav, and four months ago they gave birth to their first son, Uri.

Upon hearing the tragic news, his mother and other family members made their way to his home in central Herzliya, from where Flekser departed a day earlier to report for reserve duty.

Flekser's father died of a heart attack at the age of 42. His mother, Aviva, raised him and his three siblings on her own. He went to high school at the Reali School in Haifa and after the army studied physics. He recently received his master's degree with honors and was planning on beginning a doctorate at Tel Aviv University. For three consecutive years he made the dean's list for excellence.

His aunt, fighting through tears and held up by family members, told reporters: "He was a rooted person, with values, who loved his family. Whatever he touched he succeeded in. His mother raised four exemplary children on her own. Everything about Erez was good, good, good. Everything, except that he left us."

Erez and Meirav met six years ago and married a year and a half ago. They initially lived together in Tel Aviv, and only last week celebrated a housewarming for their new home in Herzliya, where they moved a month ago.

His brother-in-law, Udi, said Tuesday that "everyone talks about 'salt of the earth,' but when you take the definition in the dictionary and hold it next to Erez and his picture — you see that it's him. That's the person."

Erez was the second-oldest sibling. He is survived by his mother, wife and son, along with his two brothers, Alon and Oren, and sister, Ella.

'He was an officer and a gentleman'

Stunned and hurting neighbors from the community of Oranit in Samaria gathered at the home of Lt. Col. Noam Ron on Tuesday. Ron's family could barely comprehend that 16 years after the passing of his brother, Eyal, they were once again dealt such a terrible blow.

Noam, 49, was married to Ella and father of three girls aged 20, 17 and 16. Those who knew him described a strong person, a sportsman with a passion for basketball, who swam every day and loved hiking around the country.

Yoni, his anguished younger brother, said, "Noam was a talented person and a gifted pilot. As far as I know, no one did as much reserve duty as him."

Noam was raised in Ramat Hasharon and studied at the Rothberg high school, which has produced numerous graduates who went on to become air force pilots. Seven of Noam's classmates finished the prestigious pilot's course. Noam, who loved mathematics and physics, graduated his pilot's course as a combat helicopter pilot. At the age of 25 he was discharged from mandatory service and turned to a career in high-tech. He worked in several companies throughout the years until founding his own company.

Shlomi Langer, the head of the Oranit Local Council, described Noam, one of the community's veteran members: "The definition of salt of the earth fits him perfectly. He was a humble guy, modest, quiet, smiling; he loved his country — always ready to help with anything asked of him by the community and the country. He was an officer and a gentleman. Noam is Oranit's first son to fall in the line of duty. Our National Remembrance Day ceremonies will look different from now on."

Tamar, a neighbor and family friend, recalled how "at five in the morning we heard a scream. I stepped outside and the darkness fell over me. I saw all the army people and understood that something terrible happened. Noam and Ella are an amazing couple who raised three wonderful children. He loved animals just as he loved people."

As mentioned, 16 years earlier Noam's brother, Eyal, also a helicopter pilot, was killed in a snappling accident in the Judean Desert. Their brother Yoni told reporters that in recent years the family had finally managed to stop living with a sense of dread: "Noam was so talented, and with his authority and years of experience and flight simulators, this was the last thing one could have expected."

Noam is survived by two parents, a brother, sister, his wife and their three daughters.

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