What began as a routine technical precaution ended in the total loss of an Israeli Air Force “Yanshuof” (Black Hawk) helicopter.
While the aircraft sustained catastrophic damage, the IDF has confirmed that no injuries were reported during the multi-stage incident in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank.
The Initial Incident: A Precautionary Landing
The sequence of events started when the helicopter made its initial emergency landing on Tuesday due to severe weather conditions. It sat in the field for a few days before the recovery attempt today (Friday).
The Recovery Failure
The IAF dispatched a heavy-lift transport helicopter—likely a CH-53 “Yasur”—to perform a sling recovery. This common but delicate operation involves securing the grounded aircraft to a series of high-strength cables and hoisting it into the air to be carried to a secure location.
As the recovery helicopter began to transport the Black Hawk, one of the primary carrying cables snapped. The sudden shift in tension caused the remaining lines to fail. The Black Hawk fell from a significant height, tumbling down a nearby hillside.
Impact with the rocky terrain resulted in severe structural damage, effectively rendering the multi-million dollar aircraft a total loss.
Investigation and Safety Standdown
Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar has ordered a full investigation into the mechanical failure of the first helicopter and, more critically, the failure of the recovery equipment.
“While the loss of an airframe is significant, the primary concern is always the safety of the aircrews. The fact that this incident ended without a single injury is a testament to the protocols followed during the initial emergency.” — Military Source
The IAF will now look to determine if the cable failure was due to a material defect, an improper weight calculation, or environmental factors during the lift.
