Crash Israeli Defence Force Atalef

On Monday evening, 3 January 2022, a Heyl Ha'Avir (IAF, Israeli Air Force) AS565MA Atalef medium-weight multi-purpose twin-engine helicopter crashed of the coast of the city of Haifa. The helicopter went down with a crew of three onboard. Both pilots were killed in the accident, the patrol officer was taken to hospital.

The cause of the crash has not been revealed and an investigation has been started to this fatal accident.

On behalf of the Israeli Navy, the IAF operates five AS565MA Atalefs with 193 Defenders of the West Squadron which are based at Ramat David. The Atalefs will be replaced with the Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk. The first Seahawk is expected to be delivered this year. See the Scramble Magazine news item from 11 December 2021 on the replacement of the AS565MA.

Photo by Leonard van Teeffelen (Scramble Archive)