A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed on Friday during rehearsals for the upcoming Radom Airshow in central Poland, killing its pilot, officials confirmed.
The aircraft went down around 17:30 GMT, slamming into the runway and causing significant damage, according to local media reports. As a result, the Radom Airshow scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled.
Government spokesman Adam Szłapka confirmed the pilot’s death on X but provided no further details.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who visited the crash site, paid tribute to the fallen officer.
“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,” he wrote on X.
The General Command of the Armed Forces said the aircraft belonged to the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznań. Authorities stressed that no bystanders were injured in the incident.
