A Polish Air Force pilot died when his F-16 fighter jet crashed in a fiery explosion during a rehearsal for an air show in Radom, central Poland. The General Command of the Armed Forces confirmed the accident involved an aircraft from the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznan, adding that no bystanders were injured.
Witnesses reported seeing the jet perform a barrel-roll aerobatic manoeuvre before it dropped to the ground, exploded, and slid along the runway in a ball of flames. The crash occurred at approximately 5.30pm local time, according to local media.
Defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz visited the scene and wrote on social media: “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.” Rescue operations were immediately launched by army chiefs.
The Radom air show, scheduled for the weekend, has been cancelled following the incident.
