After eight F-16s stored in an underground hangar were damaged in last week’s rainstorm, military says it will get them up and running in at most a week

An Israeli Air Force officer on Monday acknowledged that the military made a mistake by not removing a number of fighter jets from their underground hangars during a heavy rainstorm last week.

According to the military, eight F-16 fighter jets were damaged when the hangars flooded at the Hatzor air base in southern Israel. The planes were expected to return to service in less than a week, after costly repairs are made.

“It was a mistake not to empty the underground hangars,” the air force officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The military censor initially barred media outlets from reporting on the incident, drawing criticism that it was doing so not to prevent damage to national security but to cover up an embarrassing episode for the air force.

The flooding occurred as heavy rains lashed Israel on Thursday, causing widespread flooding in several cities. Authorities have faced criticism over inadequate drainage infrastructure do deal with the rains. At least seven people have been killed in floods so far this winter.

Channel 12 news reported that several mechanics needed to be rescued from the flooded hangars, with waters reaching more than one and a half meters (4.5 feet) in depth. The IDF would not immediate confirm that report, but said that no soldiers were injured in the flood.

SOURCE: Times of Israel, read more..