An Israel air force pilot , the son of an astronaut who died aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 2003 , was killed Sunday in an F-16 fighter jet crash , Israel Defense Forces said in a statement . A military helicopter hovers over the Hebron Hills , site of the jet crash Sunday of Israel air force pilot Assaf Ramon . Lt. Assaf Ramon died in the crash near the Israeli community of P'nei Chever in the southern Hebron Hills , the IDF said . The F-16 crashed `` during a routine flight as part of the advanced pilot training course , '' the statement said . The wreckage of the plane was found by search and rescue forces , the IDF said . Ramon was posthumously promoted to captain , officials said . He was the son of Col. Ilan Ramon , Israel 's first astronaut . The elder Ramon died February 1 , 2003 , with six others aboard the space shuttle Columbia when it broke apart over Texas , minutes before it would have landed in Florida . Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan , Israel air force commander , launched an investigation into the crash , the IDF said . All F-16 training flights were canceled until further notice . Nehushtan and Maj. Gen. Avi Zamir , head of the Personnel Branch , `` visited the home of Rona Ramon and informed her of the tragic event , '' the IDF said . Rona Ramon is Assaf Ramon 's mother and the widow of Ilan Ramon . The younger Ramon excelled in an IAF pilot training course last month , received a presidential honor , and was given his pilot 's wings by President Shimon Peres , Israeli military officials said . Funeral arrangements were pending .
Lt. Assaf Ramon fatally crashes during routine flight , Israel Defense Forces say . IDF : Personnel Branch brass `` informed [ mother Rona Ramon ] of the tragic event '' and she was shocked by it all.