The man who was killed in a light plane crash in northern Israel earlier today (Monday) has been identified as Tal Ben Yosef, a 50-year-old amateur pilot and resident of Beit Hashmonai.
An initial investigation of the crash found that the aircraft suffered technical difficulties as it was attempting to return to the Rosh Pina airport. The plane lost altitude and crashed in an open area between the Israeli-Arab village of Tuba Zangaria and Moshav Elifelet.
Beit Hashmonai Mayor Odel Avitan said that Ben Yosef was "an outstanding family man and a beloved member of the community. We will miss him greatly, we are shocked and heartbroken and share in the family's grief."
Ben Yosef previously served as the editor of the aviation magazine 'Im Haruach' (With the Wind).
A 30-year-old man who was in the aircraft with Ben-Yosef when it crashed remains in serious-but-stable condition and is hospitalized at the Ziv Medical Center in Safed.