Astronaut Ilan Ramon's son dies in IAF crash
Asaf Ramon was the son of Israel's sole astronaut, who died when space shuttle Columbia crashed in 2003.
By Haaretz Service and Anshel Pfeffer Tags: Israel newsTragedy struck the family of late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon again Sunday, when his son Captain Asaf Ramon was killed in a crash while flying an Israel Air Force F16-A.
Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut was one of seven crew members killed when the U.S. space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry on February 1, 2003.
Asaf Ramon's aircraft crashed near the settlement of Bnei Haver, in the rugged terrain of the Hebron Hills. The Israel Defense Forces carried out an aerial and terrestrial search of the area for some 90 minutes before locating the crash site.
IAF Blackhawk ("Yanshuf") helicopters carrying soldiers from 669, the Air Force's elite search and rescue unit, were the first to locate the plane, and they retrieved the pilot's body.
At a press conference Sunday evening, a grim-faced Brigadier General Yochanan Locker of the Israel Air Force confirmed the circumstances of the crash.
"The plane crashed during a routine training flight," Locker said. "Helicopters, rescue forces from [elite unit] 669, grounds troops and rescue personnel were dispatched to the site.
"The remains of the plane were found after an extensive search. The Air Force commander has established a committee of inquiry headed by a colonel to investigate the incident," he said. "It is a difficult day for the Air Force [when there is] an accident like this, in which people are killed."
Asaf, 21, excelled in the IAF's grueling training course for pilots. In June he received a presidential honor and was given his pilot's wings by President Shimon Peres. He then joined the squadron in which the course's advanced training program is carried out.
The young pilot escaped another plane crash only half a year ago during a routine training flight.
The Air Force commander, Major General Ido Nehushtan, called an official inquiry and halted training in Israel's F-16 squadrons until further notice, the military said in a statement.
The IAF is investigating a number of possible causes and is looking into whether Ramon was suffering from any physiological problems, such as vertigo or a blackout, at the time of the crash.
The young captain had passed a physical exam and was not known to have any medical problems.
Ilan Ramon himself was a fighter pilot in the IAF, and the youngest to take part in Israel's 1981 air strike on Iraq's unfinished Osirak nuclear reactor. He was also the son and grandson of Holocaust survivors.
People in Israel had tracked Ramon's journey into space as a welcome distraction from the violence of the second intifada; they responded to his death with shock and grief.
On Sunday, Israeli TV stations screened footage of Ramon floating weightless in the space shuttle, swallowing floating drops of water and speaking about his love for his wife and children.
Asaf, was the eldest of Ilan Ramon's four children. He was 15 when his father died; shortly afterward, he promised on a number of occasions that he would follow in his father's footsteps and serve as a pilot and possibly even as an astronaut in the future. He is survived by his mother, and his two brothers and sister.
Shortly before receiving his wings, Ramon told the IAF journal that, "It was important to me to mention my father and tell his stories, because I am proud of him and proud to be his son. But I also want people to know me as Asaf and not just as the son of the astronaut Ilan Ramon."
|
Captain Asaf Ramon. |
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
its sad to learn the tragic accident of ramon too soon after his father's columbia's fatal accident. may his soul rest in peace. will miss u ramon
there are no words .... he'll be deeply missed i send my condolences to rona and the family .
Those who face dangers unimaginable to people who live in safety and comfort in the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Scandinavia and Australia. Men and women in the flower of youth who serve their country with honour and sometimes, tragically, fall.
The debris of father's shuttle exploded over Palestine, Texas. Ilan's plane crashed in the Palestinian West Bank. Any messages here?
what a sweet guy i knew him from a jewish summer camp we got along great had a beautiful personality
"Ok we need to wait the conclusion of the investigation but why the hell didn`t he eject?" - Goy Just getting your hands on the center pull ejection handle of the ACES II seat can be a problem in high-g situations. Another problem with the F-16 is that the canopy gives excellent visibility, but is so tough that the seat doesn't have a canopy breaker. Failure to jettison the canopy results in a failed attempt. While the ACES II as fitted in the F-16 is a 'zero-zero' seat, it is not capable of achieving a successful ejection under all flight conditions. Essentially the ejection sequence requires the pilot to position himself for ejection, reach and pull the handle between his legs. The canopy is jettisoned, the seat rocket fires. As the seat fires the drogue mortar launches the extraction chute, and then the main is deployed. At a high rate of sink, or low altitude the sequence may not happen quickly enough to ensure survival. Seats are better than stepping over the side, but . . .
I must confess to having a lust to fly an F-16. And Asaf Ramon was lucky to have flown Harry Hillaker's last great airplane design. The aircraft has a nickname, 'lawn dart', based not only on it's resemblance to that ill conceived toy, but on it's relatively poor safety record. The rates of turn and it's ability to pull high g's make it's pilots prone to G-lock. It was an F-16 which Ilan Ramon flew in the raid on the Osirak reactor. We have no indication at this time what misfortune befell the young man. But the tragedy for his family and nation remains.
A terrible loss for his family and for Israel! May the soul have an easy ascent!
So devastating...wishing the family all strength and healing at this terrible hour of anguish...
Israel weeps and Jews around the world weep for this son of Israel. How much can one family endure? Deepest sympathy to the Ramon family...may G-d give you all strength to endure yet another tragedy.
Very sorry to hear this sad news. my Condolences to the family on this tragedy.
Blessings and love sent from the US. Our hearts are full of sorrow for his family and those who loved him. May all of Israel feel our support as we mourn with you.
Sometimes one wonders just how much pain and heart-ache one family is asked to endure. Words cannot express the sorrow and sadness sweeping over me, as I am sure, it sweeps over countless others, who, despite not knowing this young man and his family in person, feel a deep grief and helplessness. May Assaf Rest in Peace, and may his surviving family members know no more tradgedy. Enough already!!!
We are missing an angel from our heavenly squadron. No pilot can be replaced such as he. We need to morn the loss of a soul given wings to a different life now. Our hearts are grieved for the family and we hope he is carried on forever in our memories. I for one have gone down and life is precious. Can you imagine he walked forward to Christ reaching out his hand into friends and family who are waiting for him. We shall pray shant we.. To squall above the skies and have our tails catch fire like a phoenix is the moment you see all that God created for us.. maybe the footage from a pilots eyes to the ground would be great... maybe hubble.com to see space... I fly knowing any minute could be the last in a triangle of straight angle up to straight angle down home in one hour... wait for me...my husband is with you now.... wait for me... Karoon
.. for the family. My heartfelt condolences for Rona and the family and friends of Asaf.
I would like to express my sadness and grief for the widow of Ilan Ramon, for the loss of her husband, and as the Mother of Asaf. I can not even imagine what it is like for you dealing with your day to day lives even without the tragedies you have encountered. Please know there are many of us all over the world, and perhaps especially in the U.S., who share your sorrows and prayers for your family and Israel. I wish you, your sons, and daughter, a better year to come. It is difficult to say Happy New Year, but I do wish a healing and loving year to come for you all. My heart goes out to you for the strength you must display for your other children, the rest of your family, and your Country. I truly wish you well and hope this note can get to you. Think of it as a warm, familial, comforting hug. Sincerely, Suzi Clark kimbeandme@yahoo.com
IT IS SAD AND AGAIN SAD
How terribly sad, for the family, for Israel, for the worldwide Jewish people. Condolences and comfort to all who mourn another tragic loss.
Asaf is now with God and his father Ilan, reunited, and they are happy in paradise. Prayers for consolation to the bereaved Ramon family.
Boruch Dayen Emet .
Only a thorough painstaking examination,& investigation can determine what really happened to Ilan Ramon's son. The human psyche plays an important part in one's bringing up. The son,who from an early age was so proud of his father. Saw him,as indeed all of Israel did as a hero. And in a split second thought that he was able to save the plane & himself ! He probably never thought of bailing out.His mind was to save the plane ! My sincere condolences to the family. P.S. A very nice gesture by a Palestinian Talkbacker..Ramzi Jaber.
Such a sad day, poor Asaf, poor Ramon family. No words can express my condolences to the Ramon family and to all of Israel.
a Great Son of Israel !!
Graduates of Clear Lake High School ('06) who knew Asaf are grief stricken at the loss of this incredible young man. Our sincerely condolences to this family who has had to endure more loss than we can begin to understand. God bless you and keep you.
a tragedy for the family and the people of our country.condolences to all
Very sad.
a big hug to the Ramon family in this very difficult moments
It's very sad that the Ramon family is hit with a second tragedy. Capt. Asaf Ramon's death in the hills of Palestine was unnecessary. Let's all make peace so there will be no more deaths on both sides.
Ilan Ramon became a family project. When the shuttle crashes, we felt destroyed for some time. It wasn't fair, and now neither is this. It is a tragedy. Our family sends deepest condolences to the Ramon family.
Indeed a sad day for us all
RIP to Capt. Ramon, condolenece to the family and all of Israel, a small country for which such losses are magnified (compared to the US) As for why not eject, it's amazing how many airforce crashes result in fatalities; so i'm convinced that it is the nature of all military pilots. in any airforce (no matter who the parents are) to try to save the plane, delaying ejections. it's just the nature of the people who make it through pilot training, they're extremely driven, confident men and women, and they have to be to get where they got. unfortunately, they tend not to quit when it's time. there's no time to think, it's all instincts. and for all the simulation training, the psychology of being in a real plane about to crash has got to be quite different and there's no practice. also, much trianing these days is low level ground attack, leaving little room for escape RIP plus,
I agree entirely with Esther. Poor Mrs Ramon lost her husband and now her son. No words can describe the agony of this lady.
Terrible tragedy for the family, Israel and all people. Very sad day for me.
DELETED BY MODERATOR
... for the wife of Ilan and the mother of Asaf... ... the whole of Israel mourns with her yet again...
Ok we need to wait the conclusion of the investigation but why the hell didn't he eject? I sincerely hope that he was not a victim of the burden, of trying to do better than his father, that might have been on his shoulders. My condolences to the ramon family.
I am sorry to read this.