1997 Israeli helicopter disaster

1997 Israeli helicopter disaster

The remains of one of the crashed helicopters
Accident
Date	February 4, 1997 (1997-02-04)
Summary	Mid-air collision
Site	She'ar Yashuv in northern Israel 33°13′20″N 35°38′28″E / 33.22222°N 35.64111°E / 33.22222; 35.64111
Total fatalities	73
Total survivors	0
First aircraft
Type	Sikorsky S-65C-3 Yas'ur 2000
Operator	Israeli Air Force
Registration	357
Fatalities	37
Survivors	0
Second aircraft
Type	Sikorsky S-65C-3 Yas'ur 2000
Operator	Israeli Air Force
Registration	903
Fatalities	36
Survivors	0

The 1997 Israeli helicopter disaster (Hebrew: אסון המסוקים, romanized: Ason HaMasokim, lit. ''Disaster of the Helicopters'') occurred on February 4, 1997, when two Israeli Air Force transport helicopters ferrying Israeli soldiers into Israel's security zone in southern Lebanon collided in mid-air, killing all 73 Israeli military personnel on board. The crash brought about widespread national mourning and is considered a leading factor in Israel's decision to withdraw from southern Lebanon in 2000.