Report: Asarta Survives Emergency Chopper Engine Failure
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) commander Major General Alberto Asarta survived an emergency failure in his chopper on Friday night, An Nahar newspaper reported.
Asarta was on his way to the Presidential Palace to attend a dinner held in honor of Irish President Mary McAleese when the incident occurred, the daily said on Monday.
The Irish president was on her last official visit to Lebanon after serving 14 years as Ireland’s head of state.
When the helicopter was taking off from the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, a sudden failure of the hydraulic engine occurred, which forced the pilot to land immediately.
McAleese held meetings over the weekend with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and members of the Irish contingent of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon.
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