Ejection and unit explode

[Gunfreak]

I want an F-16 to suddenly get hit by a missile in a sneak attack, once I cross into a zone. 

but if I set explode unit, the pilot dies no matter how small the explosion is. if I set the unit AI life to 3, he does eject, but no explosion trigger activates(I assume because the unit is dead by that point as soon at the ejection is activated.