JERUSALEM, Palestine /ANKARA 

The Israeli army said the crash of a navy helicopter that killed two crew members was due to a serious technical malfunction, local media reported late Tuesday. 

According to the Jerusalem Post, Brigadier General Amir Lazar, head of the Israeli Air Force's Training Department, said the crash late Monday off the coast of Haifa in northern Israel was likely due to a fire that broke out in the left engine.

The crew was able to reduce altitude to carry out an emergency landing on the sea after the fire caused a power failure, which is likely why they were unable to make a distress call, Lazar said.

The military helicopter was carrying two Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) pilots and a patrol officer.

The officer was rescued shortly after the crash and was flown to Rambam Hospital in moderate condition while the two pilots were discovered after a lengthy search but died despite resuscitation efforts.

The reason the two pilots were unable to exit the aircraft as well as the exact cause of their deaths remain unclear for the time being.