Israeli-made Kfir fighter jet crashes in Colombia

An Israeli fighter jet purchased by the Colombian army crashed on Monday near the city of Cartagena. The Israeli pilots operating the plane were unharmed in the incident, but the jet itself was destroyed. The pilots were employed by Israel Aerospace Industries, dispatched to Colombia as part of a deal with the South American country's air force. As part of the deal, Israel sold Colombia a number of advanced Kfir warplanes at a value of $150 million. Israel Aerospace Industries said in a statement that the plane was flying a refresher flight, and that the aircraft didn't come to a stop on the landing strip, landing outside it. The director of the Israel Aerospace Industries announced that an investigation into the incident had already begun and that a panel to probe the crash had been appointed. The Kfir, developed in Israel, is a modification of the French Mirage, which was first manufactured in Israel after France imposed an embargo on Israel in 1967. At first, the aircraft were named Nesher, Hebrew for eagle, but after the engine was upgraded to an American one, the aircraft's name was changed to Kfir, meaning lion cub. The aircraft was retired from Israeli military use in the 80s.

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