A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during a rehearsal for the upcoming Radom Airshow in central Poland, killing the pilot, the army confirmed on Thursday. The incident has led to the cancellation of the weekend even.
According to the General Command of the Armed Forces, the jet belonged to the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznan. The crash occurred on the runway in Radom around 1730 GMT, and while the pilot lost his life, no bystanders were injured.
Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz visited the crash site and paid tribute to the officer, describing him as someone who “always served his country with dedication and great courage.”
Eyewitness footage circulated by local media showed the aircraft performing a barrel roll aerobatic manoeuvre before losing control and crashing in flames across the runway. The crash damaged the airstrip, forcing authorities to cancel the Radom Airshow, one of Poland’s most prominent aviation events.
“Rescue operations were immediately initiated at the scene,” military officials said, adding that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over Poland’s aviation community, which had been preparing for the international airshow expected to draw thousands of spectators.
