A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed on Thursday evening during a rehearsal for the AirSHOW Radom 2025 in central Poland. The accident killed a Polish Army pilot and forced authorities to cancel the upcoming airshow.
The incident occurred around 1730 GMT (11:00 p.m. IST). The F-16 belonged to the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznan. Videos of the crash quickly went viral on social media.
How the Crash Happened
The video shows the F-16 performing a barrel-roll aerobatic manoeuvre before losing control. The jet dropped rapidly, hit the ground, and exploded into a huge fireball. The burning aircraft skidded on the runway for a few meters.
⚡ BREAKING: F-16 fighter jet crashes during training for the Radom Air Show in Poland. Pilot killed
Aircraft crashed into the runway around 1730 GMT and damaged it. The Radom Airshow planned for the weekend has been cancelled.
Government spokesman Adam Szlapka confirmed the… pic.twitter.com/E3wFl6MKIP
— OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) August 28, 2025
No bystanders were injured in the crash, according to the General Command of the Armed Forces.
Deputy PM Confirms Pilot’s Death
Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, confirmed the tragedy. He rushed to the accident site and shared the news on X (formerly Twitter).
“In the F-16 plane crash, a Polish Army pilot died – an officer who always served his country with dedication and great courage. I pay tribute to his memory. To the family and loved ones, I offer my deepest condolences,” he posted.
Jestem na miejscu tragedii. W katastrofie samolotu F-16 zginął pilot Wojska Polskiego – oficer, który zawsze służył Ojczyźnie z oddaniem i wielką odwagą.
Składam hołd Jego pamięci.
Rodzinie i bliskim składam najgłębsze wyrazy współczucia.To wielka strata dla Sił Powietrznych i…
— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) August 28, 2025
“This is a great loss for the Air Force and the entire Polish Army,” he added.
The weekend airshow in Radom was one of Poland’s biggest aviation events. Following the accident, organisers announced its cancellation. Thousands of aviation fans who were waiting to attend will now miss the event.
F-16 Crash Follows F-35 Accident
This tragedy comes just a day after another military aircraft crash. On Wednesday, an F-35 stealth fighter jet went down during a training flight. The pilot managed to eject safely in that case.
The back-to-back crashes of advanced fighter jets have raised questions about safety during high-performance training and airshows. Investigations are essential, according to aviation experts, to determining whether pilot error or technological problems caused these crashes.
Cause of Crash Under Investigation
The Polish Armed Forces said the reason behind the crash is still unknown. A special commission will now examine flight data, wreckage, and video recordings to find the cause.
Until then, Poland’s Air Force and Army are mourning the loss of a decorated pilot whose dedication and courage have been publicly praised.
ALSO READ: F-35 Crash in Alaska: Pilot Stayed on 50-Minute Call Before Crash | Watch
