A Polish Army pilot was killed when a Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during an airshow rehearsal in Radom, central Poland. Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland's deputy prime minister, confirmed the tragic news and lamented the incident as a "great loss for the Air Force."
A video capturing the crash quickly went viral. The footage shows the F-16 performing a barrel roll, a complex aerobatic manoeuvre, before it suddenly plummets toward the ground. Upon impact, the aircraft explodes, creating a massive fireball. The fiery wreckage then skids along the runway for several metres before coming to a stop.
The accident took place at approximately 1730 GMT (11:00 pm IST). According to the General Command of the Armed Forces, the jet was from the 31st Tactical Air Base, located near Poznan. The command also confirmed that no bystanders were injured in the crash.
As a result of the tragedy, the AirSHOW Radom 2025, which was scheduled to be held over the weekend, has been cancelled.
Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz posted a message on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), announcing his presence at the crash site. "A Polish Army pilot died in the F-16 plane crash – an officer who always served his country with dedication and great courage," he wrote in his post as a tribute to the fallen pilot. I honor his memory. I send my sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones. "This is a great loss for the Air Force and the entire Polish Army," he added, underscoring the seriousness of the loss.
The cause of the crash is still being investigated.
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