A flyover to honour Israel’s coronavirus fighters

The unique civilian salute flyover took off last Friday from Rishon Lezion air pad, in tribute to and to as a gesture of gratitude to the Magen David Adom teams, IDF, and all medical teams who are working around the clock in the national fight against the coronavirus and to raise awareness for the Ministry of Health’s guidelines for social distancing, masks and hygiene to reduce the spread of the virus.

The flyover was initiated by Lt. Col. (Res.) Meir Indor, chairman of Almagor – an organization of victims of terror.

Six private jets took off from the airfield led by Lt. Col. (Res.) Dan Sion, former commander of a fighter squadron and Air Force Aerobatic team member. The flyover then proceeded to the Padeh- Poria helicopter air pad  – Lahak and MDA’s aerial evacuation air pad where MDA teams were waiting to view the flyover, at the Padeh-Poria Medical Center, led Hospital Director  Dr. Erez On,  and Malka Amron Nursing Director, who came especially to honour the teams.

During the flight, the pilot Lt. Col. Dan Sion contacted Magen David Adom’s 101 Emergency Call Centre and conveyed a message of appreciation in honour of the teams at the forefront of the fight against the Coronavirus throughout the country: “At the moment we are flying over your helicopter air pad at Poria Medical Center. Poria, we are paying tribute with this flight to you, the IDF, the hospital staff and all the people involved in the fight against the Coronavirus. We thank you on behalf of all Israeli citizens. Thank you!”

The planes also flew over Hadassah Ein Kerem, Hillel Yaffe and Laniado hospitals, and later flew over the beaches of Herzliya, Tel Aviv and Ashdod.

 

Along with honouring and saluting medical professionals, the flyover had another important goal which is to raise awareness and encourage the public to adhere to the Ministry of Health’s guidelines for social distancing, wearing a mask and hygiene in order to break the chain of infection.

MDA Director General Eli Bin said: “In these complex days, the special tribute flight held this morning is an optimistic and heartwarming reminder of the public unity and social value in the State of Israel. I would like to thank the initiator of the special event, Lt. Col. (Res.) Meir Indor, Chairman of Almagor who also served today as lead pilot, Lt. Col. (Res.) Dan Sion, a former Air Force commander, a fighter squadron and the five other pilots who succeeded in a special and extraordinary gesture to excite, delight and express gratitude to MDA teams. “We are looking forward to fighting the virus and taking care of public health. We are proud to lead the fight and we will continue to do so until the end of the plague.”