11/24 Israeli Helicopter crash Kills 4

November 24, 2009
Abram I. Bohrer

A civilian helicopter crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off the Israeli coast city of Netanya today killing all four persons aboard including a British tourist.

Witnesses said they heard a strange noise come from the helicopter’s propeller. The rotor then came off and the craft fell 300 meters into the sea.

Police identified three of the victims as Yoav Tamir, a co-owner of Tamir Airways, which offers helicopter rides to tourists, and Ran Iapid, an El Al pilot, who was flying the helicopter and Hadar Shavit, 39, from the town of Lapid.

Police believe that the cause of the crash was a mechanical malfunction and they are investigating.