Polish F-16 crashes during airshow rehearsal, pilot killed

WARSAW: A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed on Thursday during a rehearsal for the upcoming Radom Airshow in central Poland, killing the pilot.

The tragic accident occurred near the runway of Radom Airport, forcing authorities to cancel the airshow scheduled for the weekend. The aircraft belonged to the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznań. Fortunately, no bystanders were injured.

Official response

Poland’s Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz paid tribute to the fallen officer after arriving at the scene.

“A Polish Army pilot died in the crash of an F-16 aircraft — an officer who always served his country with dedication and great courage. I pay tribute to his memory,” he wrote on X.

The General Command of the Armed Forces confirmed that rescue operations were launched immediately, though the pilot could not be saved.

The crash

Footage shared by Polish media showed the F-16 fighter jet performing a barrel roll maneuver before crashing in flames. The impact caused significant damage to the runway, making it unsafe for further airshow activities.

Local reports indicated the crash took place around 17:30 GMT, shortly before rehearsals were set to end.

Background

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Wikipedia has been a backbone of many NATO air forces, including Poland’s, known for its agility and multi-role combat capabilities. Poland has operated the aircraft since 2006 as part of its efforts to modernize its air fleet.

The Radom Airshow, one of the country’s biggest aviation events, now stands cancelled as Poland mourns the loss of one of its servicemen.

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