Polish F-16 Crash Horror: Star Pilot Dies During Radom Airshow Rehearsal, Event Cancelled
Radom, Poland – A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during rehearsals for the Radom Airshow on August 28, 2025, killing the pilot, Major Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian, a renowned display pilot from the F-16 Tiger Demo Team.
The crash occurred around 7:25 pm at Radom Air Base while the aircraft was performing an aerobatic manoeuvre. Eyewitness footage showed the jet entering a barrel roll or descending steeply before hitting the runway and bursting into flames. There was no sign of an ejection attempt.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who visited the crash site, called the incident “a great loss for the Air Force and the entire Polish Army,” while offering condolences to the pilot’s family.
Authorities confirmed no injuries on the ground. However, the Radom Airshow, one of Poland’s largest aviation events, was immediately cancelled.
The aircraft belonged to the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznan and was part of Poland’s NATO-oriented modernised fleet. Military investigators are probing the cause of the crash.
The tragedy has shaken Poland’s armed forces and drawn widespread condolences from government officials, service members, and the international community.
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