JERUSALEM - Two Missing Following Israeli F-16 Fighter Crash

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Title: Two Missing Following Israeli F-16 Fighter Crash

http://library.northernlight.com/FA20000328700000037.html?cb=200&dx=2006&sc=0#doc

Story Filed: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 5:24 AM EST

JERUSALEM (March 28) XINHUA - The pilot and navigator of an Israel Air Force (IAF) F-16 fighter are still missing till Tuesday morning after their plane crashed into the sea Monday night, an IAF report said.

The two airmen left their air force base in Ramat David for a routine training flight with the two-seater warplane. About 8 p.m. local time (GMT 1800) Monday night, the plane lost contacts with the control tower.

As the site where it disappeared from the radar screen is about 20 kilometers off the coast of Atlit, a coastal town nearly 70 kilometers north of Tel Aviv, it is believed that the plane had plunged into the Mediterranean Sea.

Emergency procedures were immediately implemented with navy vessels and air force helicopters carrying out an extensive search in the presumed area of the crash.

By Tuesday morning, no debris had been found. Although chances are slim for finding the two alive, search teams have been continuing efforts to locate the plane and the crew.

Major General Eitan Ben Eliahu, commander of IAF, Monday night appointed a commission to investigate the accident, which remains a mystery according to air force officials.

The disappearance was not preceded by any radio transmissions indicating problems on board. All attempts to contact the plane's crew failed.

Apparently, the airmen failed to eject themselves from the aircraft for unknown reasons, some air force sources said, adding that the plane might go into a tailspin and struck the water at high speed. Anyway, it cannot be determined what took place until the craft is located.

The incident was the latest one in a series of crashes involving IAF F-16 fighter jets.!!

A F-16 crashed in the Negev desert on February 2 during a routine training session, apparently due to engine failure.

Israel has signed a deal with the United States earlier this year to purchase 50 F-16 fighters with an option to buy a further 60. The air force expected the 110 F-16 aircraft to enter service as of 2003.

Copyright ) 2000, Xinhua News Agency, all rights reserved.

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 28, 2000


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