Syrian Pilots’ Unexpected Gift to Israel

Here is an interesting fact: a pair of Syrian pilots accidentally gifted Israel a pair of Soviet MiG-17 fighters in 1968.

Navigational Error Leads to Israeli Territory

On August 12, 1968, a pair of Syrian Air Force pilots took off for what was supposed to be a navigational training flight that would have taken them to another base in Syria. Due to outdated maps used during the flight, the two pilots landed at an old airfield they believed to be their destination. In reality, the airfield was well inside Israel and was used by local farmers for crop dusting.

Surprise Encounter and Capture

Apparently, the two pilots did not realize their mistake until a contingent of IDF soldiers suddenly appeared and took them both prisoner. The two jets were taken by the Israeli Air Force for evaluation and were even loaned to the U.S. Air Force for a time. The two pilots remained in Israeli custody until 1973, when they were released via a prisoner exchange.

Though I am very certain the Israeli military prison was nothing compared to what they had to face when they returned to Syria. ~NC