Five Israeli Jews died in a plane crash in Windhoek, Namibia, on the western coast of Africa, over the weekend.
The small Cessna-210 plane the Israeli diamond-dealers were riding in crashed shortly after takeoff. The pilot, a local resident, also died in the accident.
Israel maintains ties with Namibia, but no consulate, and the Israeli Ambassador to South Africa, Ilan Baruch, traveled to the crash-site to confirm the identities of the Israelis, whose passports were found among the wreckage.
The plane apparently tried to make an emergency landing in a nearby suburb, but crashed into a house. Israel is sending a police forensics team to examine the site.
According to the Israeli Diamond Manufacturers Association, half of Namibia’s diamond factories are owned by Israeli businessmen.