As reported by Vesty.co.il, the IDF Air Force released the results of a preliminary check of the crash of the F-16 airplane of the IDF Air Force, which was shot down on a combat mission on Saturday, February 10. In the commission formed to investigate the incident, it is noted that the picture of the incident became more clear after studying the wreckage of the plane that crashed near the kibbutz Harduf in the Izrael Valley.
According to the investigation, the plane was at an altitude of 10,000 feet. The pilots were completely focused on the fulfillment of the combat mission. The launched surface-to-air missile exploded on approach to the aircraft, and its fragments probably caused the collapse of the F16. At the same time, everything happened so quickly that the crew did not have time to report anything to the command.
Due to the fact that the Syrian air defense forces conducted a dense fire, the aircraft's defense system was "overloaded" and failed to identify a specific danger. This is what experts believe was the main reason for the defeat of the F-16. It is stressed that at the same time at least 25 missiles were fired in the direction of Israeli aircraft.
As noted, the missile did not hit the plane, but exploded near it on thousands of debris. Several of them, probably, asked for fizuliage and led to a serious injury to the pilot, Major A. At the same time, there were no technical malfunctions in the machine's operation.
The commander of the Air Force of the IDF, General Amikam Norkin, believes that the crew did absolutely right, deciding to leave the injured combat vehicle. He especially noted the actions of the navigator, who managed to save the seriously wounded pilot.
The navigator, who was slightly injured and already discharged from the hospital "Rambam", in an interview with "Yediot Aharonot" said that there was no time for reflection. According to him, the surface-to-air missile exploded near the aircraft, causing considerable damage to the combat vehicle. He also added that the injury to the pilot was reflected in his actions. "He was conscious and courageously continued to coordinate our actions," said the navigator.
The condition of the pilot, who is in the hospital "Rambam", has significantly improved. He regained consciousness after the operation, his condition is now rated as an average degree of severity, although he is still in the intensive care unit.
According to Dr. Yaron Bar-Love, head of the intensive care unit, the pilot received penetrating wounds in the chest and abdomen. According to doctors, he has a high chance of a full recovery.
Recall that the F-16, shot down on Saturday, was the first aircraft that the Israeli Air Force lost over the past 34 years.