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Damaged IDF helicopter crashes in West Bank amid attempt to recover it; no injuries reported

16 January 2026 14:27 (UTC +04:00)

The IDF says a Black Hawk helicopter crashed this morning during an attempt to recover it after it had made an emergency landing earlier this week due to severe weather, APA reports, citing The Times of Israel.

According to the military, the helicopter had landed in an open area in the Gush Etzion area on Tuesday due to difficult weather conditions.

During the recovery operation today, the damaged aircraft became detached while being airlifted and crashed. No injuries were reported.

Israeli Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar has ordered the establishment of a military investigative committee to probe the incident.

Black Hawk helicopters, known in the IAF as the Yanshuf — Owl in Hebrew — are used for both routine transportation missions and to drop off and pick up troops during military operations.