July 31, 2000 (by Lieven Dewitte) - An F-16 jet fighter of the Israeli Air Force (IAF)crashed in southern Israel on Tuesday and the pilot managed to eject himself to safety. After a warning notified to the pilot that there was a problem with the engine, the pilot was forced to eject during a regular training flight just south of Hatzerim Airbase, which is located north of the city of Beer Shava.

The pilot was transferred to Tel Hashomer Hospital in Beer Shava for a routine check-up after being rescued.

IAF Commander Maj-Gen. Dan Halutz has appointed a committee to investigate the accident.

Related articles:

• Israeli F-16 crashes, pilot ditches unhurt (2000-02-01)
• Israel grounds some F-16s after crash (1999-03-29)
• Israeli F-16 Crashes at Sea (1999-03-28)
• Israeli F-16 crashes in the Negev desert (1997-09-10)
• Other F-16 Mishap News
• News archive for July 2000