RADOM, Poland (BN24) — A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed in a fiery accident during rehearsals for the upcoming Air Show 2025 in Radom, killing the pilot and forcing the cancellation of the weekend event, officials said Thursday.
The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. CET when the aircraft, belonging to the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznań, struck the runway during an aerobatic maneuver. Footage aired by Polish media showed the jet performing a barrel roll before hitting the ground and erupting in flames as it slid across the airstrip.
Government spokesman Adam Szłapka confirmed the pilot’s death in a post on X. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who visited the crash site after briefing Prime Minister Donald Tusk and military leaders, 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,” Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X.
The General Command of the Armed Forces said no civilians were injured, despite many aviation enthusiasts gathering outside Radom Air Base to watch training flights ahead of the scheduled August 30–31 airshow.
Rescue operations were immediately launched by airport fire brigades, supported by units of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. The runway sustained significant damage, and organizers later confirmed the Radom International Air Show had been cancelled.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
