Fiery F-16 Crash Shocks Poland: Pilot Killed in Airshow Rehearsal Tragedy

A routine practice run turns to disaster as a Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashes, claiming the life of a decorated pilot. The Radom Air Show, a major event, has been canceled in the wake of the devastating accident.

August 29, 2025: It was very unfortunate that a Polish Air Force F-16 fighter plane crashed on Thursday. This has cast a shadow on Poland‘s military aviation sector. The crash happened while they were getting ready for the Radom Air Show, and the pilot died. Reports say that Major Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, a famous commander and leader of the F-16 Tiger Demo Team, has died.

The F-16 crashed while doing an acrobatic move after taking off from the 31st Tactical Air Base in Poznań. It blew up as it hit the ground and rolled down the runway in a huge fire. People who saw the event filmed it and put it on social media right away. It depicted the terrible time when the plane couldn’t come out of a barrel roll.

Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, said that the disaster was a “great loss for the Air Force and the whole Polish Army.” He said on X, which used to be Twitter, that the pilot was an officer who “always served the Fatherland with dedication and great courage.” The Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, also extended his condolences. He told them to “rest in peace.” I’m very sorry for your loss and want to send my deepest condolences to the family and friends.

Officials say that no one on the ground was hurt in the occurrence. In honor of the pilot who died, the Radom Air Show, which happens twice a year and brings in military planes from all around Europe, has been canceled for this weekend.

Right now, people are trying to figure out what caused the crash. Major Krakowian was a very skilled pilot who had won several awards. He has flown F-16s for over 1,000 hours and won the trophy for “best overall flying demonstration” at the Royal International Air Tattoo. The military and the nation country are now grieving a hero. The catastrophe is a strong reminder of how dangerous it is for anyone who does aerial shows.