1997 Israeli helicopter disaster

The 1997 Israeli helicopter disaster, occurred on 4 February 1997, and left 73 IDF soldiers dead after two Sikorsky CH-53 helicopters collided over She'ar Yashuv in northern Israel. The helicopters were supposed to have crossed the border into Israel's "security zone" in Lebanon, but they were hovering while waiting for official clearance to go. Previously Israel had moved troops by ground, but this policy was changed as the threat of roadside bombs from Hizbullah increased. [Eisenberg, Laura Zittrain. [http://meria.biu.ac.il/journal/1997/issue3/jv1n3a3.html "Israel's Lebanon Policy"] , "Middle East Review of International Affairs", September 1997. Accessed 11 June 2006.]

The crash brought about widespread national grieving. Thursday, 6 February, was declared an official day of mourning, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Ezer Weizman attended funerals and visited the surviving families. In addition, thousands of Israelis went to pray at the Western Wall, and assemblies were held at schools nationwide.

Because it was the worst air disaster in Israeli history, a commission headed by David Ivry was set up to investigate the cause of the collision. The committee finished its investigation in mid-April of the same year. It had been unable to find the definite cause of the mid-air collision, noting that the pilots appeared in good health and that no external causes could be found.

ee also

*1977 Israeli CH-53 crash

References

*Segal, Naomi. [http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/5495/edition_id/102/format/html/displaystory.html "Pilot error may be cause of horrific helicopter crash"] , "Jewish Telegraphic Agency", Feb. 14, 1997. Accessed 11 June 2006.
*Segal, Naomi. [http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/6015/edition_id/112/format/html/displaystory.html "Discipline recommended in copter crash that killed 73"] , "Jewish Telegraphic Agency", 25 April 1997. Accessed 11 June 2006.

External links

* [http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1997/feb/02-05-97/news/news4.html "Two army helicopters crash in northern Israel killing 73 people"] , "The Michigan Daily", Feb. 5, 1997. Accessed 11 June 2006.
* [http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9702/04/israel.crash.update/index.html "Military helicopters collide in Israel, killing scores"] , "CNN", Feb. 4, 1997. Accessed 11 June 2006.
* [http://www.lebanon.com/news/local/1997/2/5.htm " The Israeli Helicopter Crash- Reactions in Lebanon"] , "News at Lebanon", Feb. 5, 1997. Accessed 11 June 2006.