A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during a rehearsal for the upcoming AirSHOW Radom 2025, killing the pilot and prompting the cancellation of one of Poland’s largest aviation events.
The incident occurred Thursday evening at Radom Airport, where the jet nosedived during an aerobatic maneuver and exploded upon impact.
The pilot, a member of NATO’s elite “Tiger Demo” unit, did not eject before the crash. Emergency crews responded immediately, but the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz paid tribute, calling the officer “a courageous servant of the nation.”
Footage of the crash circulated widely on social media, showing the jet’s final descent and fiery explosion. No bystanders were injured, according to local reports.
The tragedy has drawn condolences from NATO allies, including Italy and Latvia, who expressed sorrow and solidarity with Poland’s military community. Poland, which began acquiring U.S.-made F-16s in 2003, has ramped up defense spending since Russia’s 2023 invasion of Ukraine.
AirSHOW Radom 2025, scheduled for this weekend, has been officially canceled.
