A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed on Thursday during preparations for an airshow in Radom, central Poland, claiming the life of the pilot, according to a government spokesperson.
“Tragedy in Radom: during preparations for the AirShow, an F-16 aircraft has crashed. Tragically, the pilot has died,” Adam Szlapka said on X (formerly Twitter).
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who visited the crash site, expressed their condolences to the pilot’s family in messages shared on X.
The Polish military confirmed that no injuries were reported on the ground as a result of the incident.
Video footage shows the jet performing an aerobatic manoeuvre before crashing onto the runway, erupting into a massive fireball.
The Radom Airshow, located about 100 kilometres south of Warsaw, is set to take place this weekend.
Poland’s Air Force currently operates a fleet of 48 American-made F-16 fighter jets.
