An Israeli F-16 fighter jet takes off at the Nevatim air force base near Beersheva on October 6, 2010. An Israeli warplane has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea following a malfunction although both crew members were rescued unharmed, a military spokesman tells AFP. (AFP/File)
JERUSALEM (AFP) – An Israeli warplane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday following a malfunction although both crew members were rescued unharmed, a military spokesman told AFP.
"An F16 combat aircraft crashed earlier today into the sea after its engine malfunctioned," he said.
Israeli media reports said the crash took place off the coast of the Gaza Strip Palestinian enclave.
"The pilot and navigator on board bailed out of their plane and were evacuated to a hospital," the army spokesman continued, describing their condition as "stable".
Following the incident, air force chief Major General Amir Eshel "ordered all F16 and F15 aircraft grounded until the circumstances are reviewed," he said.
In November 2010, two Israeli air crew were killed when their F16 crashed during a training mission in the country's south.
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