A Yanshuf helicopter — the local designation of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk — of the Israel Defense Forces crashed near Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem, in the West Bank, during an aerial recovery operation. According to military authorities, there were no injuries.
According to information released by Israeli defense officials, the aircraft had previously suffered a malfunction and had remained immobilized for several days in a hard-to-reach area, which made recovery by ground means impossible.
Given the situation, the Israeli Air Force initiated a recovery procedure using a heavy CH-53 Yasur helicopter, which attempted to extract the UH-60 using hoisting cables.
During the recovery flight, the support cables became detached, causing the transported helicopter to fall to the ground near residential areas.
Videos posted on social media show the exact moment of the incident, including the aircraft’s fall and the reaction of residents who were observing the operation from a distance.
Authorities reiterated that the incident resulted in no casualties and that additional safety measures will be reviewed in light of the investigation’s findings.
Israeli Defense Forces helicopter crashes in the West Bank during aerial recovery operation
Source and images: X @lafda_news, @clashreport pic.twitter.com/zsT9hLad7i
— Isa (@Opec3Verbo3084) January 16, 2026
Source and images: X @lafda_news, @clashreport | IDF. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
