High-Speed Dive Crash on Runway: Polish F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes During Rehearsal

A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet, scheduled to participate in the Radom International Air Show, crashed during rehearsal on August 28, resulting in the death of one pilot.

Polish government spokesman Adam Szlapka posted on social media explaining that this was an accident.

The incident occurred in the afternoon, and the cause remains unclear. Videos circulating on social media show the fighter jet colliding with the runway at high speed during a dive, resulting in an explosion and a ball of fire. The Polish military confirmed that there were no casualties among personnel on the ground.

The deceased pilot was Major Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, leader and veteran pilot of the Polish Air Force F16 demonstration team “Tiger Demo Team”, subordinate to the 31st Tactical Air Base.

The Radom International Air Show is scheduled to take place from the 30th to 31st in Radom, about 100 kilometers south of Poland’s capital Warsaw. It is the largest air show in Poland.

The Radom Air Show has also experienced previous incidents. During the 2007 show, two pilots from the Lubuska Land Aero Club Aerobatics Team tragically lost their lives when their aircraft collided while performing a “Rose Knot” stunt. In 2009, a Belarusian Su-27 fighter jet crashed during an air display, resulting in the deaths of two Belarusian pilots, both with over 20 years of flying experience.