Remains of an F-16 plane crashed early near the Israeli town of Harduf in northern Israel, on February 10, 2018. Photo by Anat Hermony/Flash90.

JNS.org – The pilot of an Israeli F16 fighter jet seriously injured when his plane was shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft missiles on Sunday, has been upgraded to moderate condition according to Maimonides Medical Center in Haifa.

The pilot was taken off of respiration and anesthesia and is fully conscious. Trauma Unit director Dr. Yaron Bar Lavie reported that his wife is with him and he is able to speak with her. The improvement follows emergency surgery on chest and abdominal wounds, and blood transfusions.

The IAF aviators were forced to evacuate their aircraft Saturday morning when Syrian anti-aircraft missiles hit their plane. The pilots were attacking Syrian military targets in response to the infiltration of Israeli airspace by an Iranian drone controlled from Syria.

The second crew member, who was admitted to the hospital with light injuries, could be released as early as today.