TEL AVIV: A civilian helicopter plunged hundreds of metres into the sea off central Israel Tuesday afternoon, killing three tourists on board, at least one of them British, and the pilot.
"I saw the helicopter flying north of the hotel, about 500 metres from the beach. I focused on the helicopter and saw it slowly descend toward the water. Suddenly it flipped 90 degrees, the propeller hit the water and broke off and the helicopter dove into the water," the Ha'aretz daily quoted a witness as saying.
An Israel Air Force investigation revealed that none of its aircraft were missing.
Rescue services called to the scene found two bodies floating in the water, but were unable to resuscitate them.
Two more bodies were later found by Israel Navy rescue boats, and police helicopters, who had been searching for them.
The cause of the crash, which occurred opposite the resort city of Netanya, was not immediately clear.