50 years later: Elite IDF soldiers find rotor of downed helicopter in Syrian Hermon 

Soldiers from the elite Shaldag Unit, operating in an area recently under Syrian control, have located a crucial rotor from an IDF helicopter that crashed on the slopes of Mount Hermon 50 years ago.

The tragic incident began when soldiers from the 202nd Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade were positioned on the road leading to Mount Hermon's peak. While the paratroopers were preparing for a rotation, Syrian forces fired an artillery shell at the soldiers, killing eight and wounding several others.

In response, the Super Hornet 017 helicopter from the Air Force's 114th Squadron took off to evacuate the wounded. Flying low to avoid missile fire, the aircraft suddenly plunged – its main rotor striking the mountain slope before crashing catastrophically.

The crash claimed the lives of six IDF soldiers:

- Pilots: Captain Golan Levi and Lieutenant Amit Amir

- Flight Engineers: Sergeant Yaakov Berenheim and Staff Sergeant Yaakov Rol

- Doctor: Major Dr. Ahikam Avni

- Medic: Staff Sergeant Meir Rosensruk

The recovered part has been brought to Israeli territory, with the IDF hoping to locate additional remains of the helicopter that crashed on Saturday, April 27th, 1974, before the ceasefire agreement with Syria was signed.

Arutz Sheva contributed to this article.