A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed Thursday evening during rehearsals for the Radom Airshow, killing a Polish Army pilot. Authorities confirmed the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. GMT in central Poland. No bystanders were injured, but the crash has left the country mourning a decorated serviceman.
Crash Caught on Video
Video footage circulating online shows the jet performing a barrel roll before dropping sharply and exploding on impact. The fireball engulfed the aircraft as it skidded several meters across the runway before coming to a halt. The plane was assigned to the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznan, according to the General Command of the Armed Forces.
Deputy Prime Minister Reacts
Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed the pilot’s death and paid tribute to his service. “In the F-16 plane crash, a Polish Army pilot died – an officer who always served his country with dedication and great courage,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “This is a great loss for the Air Force and the entire Polish Army.”
Radom Airshow Cancelled
The crash led officials to cancel the AirSHOW Radom 2025, one of Poland’s largest aviation events scheduled for this weekend. Organizers announced the decision out of respect for the fallen pilot and to allow investigators to examine the crash site. The airshow had been expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators from across Europe.
Safety and Investigation
The Polish military has launched an inquiry into the crash to determine whether mechanical failure, human error, or another factor was responsible. Military officials emphasized that safety remains their highest priority. Past reports have shown F-16 aircraft as reliable, but like all high-performance jets, they carry inherent risks during aerobatic maneuvers (Reuters).