A Polish F-16 fighter jet crashed during a rehearsal for the upcoming Radom Airshow in central Poland on Thursday, killing the pilot, officials confirmed. The incident occurred at approximately 5.30 pm local time, when the aircraft, part of the Polish Air Force, spiraled out of control and crashed onto the runway, erupting into flames.
Visuals from the scene showed the jet descending rapidly before exploding on impact, sending a thick column of black smoke into the air. Onlookers, many of whom had gathered near the Radom air base to watch the practice flights, reacted in shock.
The General Command of the Armed Forces confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznan. No bystanders were injured in the crash. “Rescue operations were immediately initiated at the scene,” the military said in a statement.
Poland’s Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who visited the crash site, paid tribute to the pilot. "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," Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk also expressed condolences and in a post on X said: “In the F-16 plane crash, a Polish pilot was killed. Rest in peace! To the family and loved ones, I offer my deepest condolences from the bottom of my heart.”
Local media reported that the crash caused damage to the runway. As a result, organisers have cancelled the Radom Airshow, which was scheduled for August 30-31.
Source: India Today