F-16 Pilot Killed in Crash During Poland Airshow Practice

Polish Army officer dies in the incident, defense minister says.

F-16
An F-16 flies over Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Aug. 13, 2020. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Radom, Poland, during practice maneuvers for an upcoming airshow, resulting in the death of its pilot.
  • The deceased pilot was identified as Major Maciej Krakowian of the Polish F-16 Tiger Demo Team.
  • Polish officials confirmed the incident and offered condolences, stating that a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
See a mistake? Contact us.

The pilot of an F-16 fighter jet died in a crash while practicing maneuvers for an upcoming airshow in Radom, Poland, on Thursday.

Spectators outside of Radom-Sadkow Airport (EPRA) caught the incident on camera in a video posted by Insider Paper on X.

Reporting the breaking news, Bloomberg cited Polish minister and coordinator of special services Tomasz Siemoniak, who stated that the pilot was killed in the crash.

“This accident will be thoroughly investigated,” Siemoniak told private broadcaster TVN24.

Authorities, including the country’s defense minister, were taken to the scene of the accident. 

Later on Thursday, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed in a statement on X that a Polish Army officer was the pilot killed in the incident.

“I pay tribute to his memory,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. “To the family and loved ones, I offer my deepest condolences.”

The Royal Air Force Crossford Air Show posted a statement on X identifying the pilot killed as Major Maciej Krakowian of the Polish F-16 Tiger Demo Team.

“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues,” RAF Crossford Air Show said.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Caleb Revill

Caleb Revill is a journalist, writer and lifelong learner working as a Junior Writer for Firecrown. When he isn't tackling breaking news, Caleb is on the lookout for fascinating feature stories.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE