A Polish Air Force pilot has been killed after his F-16 fighter jet crashed during preparations for one of Europe’s largest military air shows, shattering plans for the high-profile event and sending shockwaves through Poland’s armed forces and its NATO allies.
The incident occurred Thursday evening at Radom Airport in central Poland, where crews had been rehearsing for the Radom International Air Show, scheduled for the weekend. At approximately 19:30 local time (17:30 GMT), the pilot’s aircraft — part of Poland’s elite “Tiger Demo” unit — failed to recover after a steep maneuver and plummeted nose-first into the ground. The jet erupted in flames on impact. Emergency crews were on the scene within minutes, but the pilot could not be saved.
The General Command of the Armed Forces confirmed that the pilot, whose identity has not yet been released, was stationed at the 31st Tactical Air Base in Poznań. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who rushed to the crash site, issued a solemn tribute.
“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.
Kosiniak-Kamysz stood alongside military officials at Radom Airport late into the night as investigators began combing through the wreckage. “The entire Polish nation grieves tonight,” he told reporters. “This tragedy reminds us of the cost of service and the risks borne by our pilots every day.”
Video clips circulating on social media show the F-16 streaking low over the runway before climbing steeply. Instead of leveling out, the jet pitched downward, slammed into the tarmac, and burst into a towering fireball. Gasps and screams can be heard from onlookers filming from a distance.
Local firefighters, already on standby due to air show preparations, rushed to the wreck but were forced back by intense flames and exploding debris. Witnesses described seeing no attempt by the pilot to eject. “It was over in seconds,” said Radom resident Andrzej Nowak, who had come to watch the rehearsals. “One moment the plane was in the air, the next it was fire on the ground.”
Organizers swiftly announced the cancellation of the Radom Air Show, Poland’s premier aviation event that attracts military and civilian participants from across Europe and beyond. “In respect for the fallen pilot and his family, the event will not go forward,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
The air show, held biennially, was expected to draw more than 150,000 visitors this year, featuring aerobatic teams from NATO countries and cutting-edge military hardware. Hotels in Radom were fully booked, and businesses had prepared for a weekend surge. Now, the city has turned into a site of mourning. Flags flew at half-staff Friday morning, and candles and flowers appeared outside Radom Airport’s gates.
The tragedy has renewed focus on Poland’s F-16 fleet, a backbone of the nation’s air defense. Poland purchased 48 of the American-made multirole jets in 2003 as part of a broader modernization drive after joining NATO in 1999. Known as the F-16C/D “Jastrząb” (“Hawk”), the aircraft have been central to NATO’s air policing missions in the Baltic states and to Poland’s deterrence posture along its eastern border.
Since Russia’s 2023 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Poland has accelerated defense spending, increasing its budget to more than 4% of GDP — the highest in NATO. Alongside new U.S.-made Abrams tanks and South Korean K2 Black Panther tanks, F-35 fighter jets are also on order, with the first deliveries expected in 2026.
Despite this modernization, Poland’s reliance on the F-16 remains significant. The jets routinely participate in NATO drills and multinational operations, including air patrols over the Baltic Sea and missions reinforcing Poland’s eastern flank. Thursday’s crash will likely trigger a review of both the operational safety of Poland’s current fleet and the training protocols for its pilots.
The fallen pilot was part of the “Tiger Demo Team,” Poland’s flagship F-16 demonstration unit known across Europe for precision aerobatics at NATO events. Established in 2005, the squadron often represents Poland in multinational air festivals, performing complex maneuvers that showcase both the capabilities of the F-16 and the skill of its pilots.
To be selected for the Tiger Demo requires years of operational experience and rigorous training. Fellow pilots describe the team as an elite fraternity. “It is the dream of every young Polish fighter pilot to wear the Tiger patch,” said retired squadron commander Lt. Col. Marek Szymański. “This loss is not only of a pilot but of one of the finest ambassadors of our Air Force.”
