An Israeli pilot died Wednesday while trying to land following an attack mission, the army confirmed in a statement.
The F-16 caught fire while landing at Ramon Air Force Base in Negev in southern Israel after striking the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Maj. Ohad Cohen Nov was killed and his assistant sustained minor injuries, the statement said.
The Israeli air forces is investigating the incident.
Israeli warplanes bombed several positions in Gaza on Wednesday following reports that a rocket fired from the besieged coastal enclave had exploded in Israel's southern city of Sderot.