Polish F-16 Crashes During Airshow Rehearsal, Pilot Killed

News Desk

Warsaw: A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed on Thursday during a rehearsal for an upcoming airshow in Radom, central Poland, killing the pilot, military officials confirmed.

Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who visited the crash site, paid tribute to the fallen officer.

“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 said the jet belonged to the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznan. No civilian casualties were reported.

“Rescue operations were immediately initiated at the scene,” the military added in a statement.

Video footage broadcast by Polish media showed the F-16 attempting a barrel roll manoeuvre before plummeting to the ground and erupting in flames. The aircraft struck the runway around 1730 GMT, leaving it damaged.

Authorities have since cancelled the Radom Airshow, which had been scheduled for this weekend.

Input from Reuters.