A wide search was under way in the Mediterranean Sea today for an Israeli fighter, the 1,300-ton Hashlosha, which has not been heard from or sighted since it sent out an SOS last night.
The Hashlosha, with a crew of 17, unloaded a cargo of phosphates at Messina, Sicily, yesterday, then proceeded presumably toward Marseilles, France. During the night, the Hashlosha sent out its distress signal, but the location indicated only that she was somewhere along the sea-route between Naples and Marseilles. The distress signal was picked up here and by at least three ships at sea — the Israeli vessel Moledet, which was due to dock at Naples this morning; a small German freighter; and the Italian frigate, the Cigno.
The Moledet is believed to have changed its scheduled route to help search for the Hashlosha. Also engaged in the search are the Cigno and several planes which left the Rome Airport to engage in the search immediately after Naples had heard the SOS. The planes have reported to their bases that, so far, they have found no trace of the Hashlosha.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
