Polish Air Force F-16 Pilot Killed in Fiery Crash Before Radom Airshow [WATCH]

A Polish Air Force pilot was killed Thursday evening when his F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the country’s international airshow in Radom.

The General Command of the Polish Armed Forces confirmed in a statement that Major Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, 35, died in the crash, which occurred at approximately 7:25 p.m. local time.

Krakowian was a member of the Polish Air Force and leader of the well-known F-16 Tiger Demonstration Team.

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He had been preparing for a performance scheduled this weekend at AirSHOW Radom 2025, an annual international airshow held about 65 miles south of Warsaw.

According to video shared in the Air Show Radom 2025 Facebook group by eyewitness Szymon Krawerenda, the pilot was executing a series of maneuvers over the airfield before entering a steep dive.

The aircraft failed to recover from the descent and struck the ground, erupting into flames. Bystanders can be heard reacting as the aircraft impacted and burned at the crash site.

GRAPHIC WARNING
A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during a rehearsal for an airshow in Radom, central Poland, and the pilot died, the army said https://t.co/k931l8Kdhd pic.twitter.com/3nZgBgy7io

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 29, 2025

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Polish Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz traveled to the scene later that evening.

In a statement posted to X, he wrote: “I am at the scene of the tragedy. In the F-16 plane crash, a Polish Army pilot died – an officer who always served the Fatherland with dedication and great courage. I pay tribute to His memory. To the family and loved ones, I offer my deepest condolences. This is a great loss for the Air Force and the entire Polish Army.”

Jestem na miejscu tragedii. W katastrofie samolotu F-16 zginął pilot Wojska Polskiego – oficer, który zawsze służył Ojczyźnie z oddaniem i wielką odwagą.

Składam hołd Jego pamięci.
Rodzinie i bliskim składam najgłębsze wyrazy współczucia.

To wielka strata dla Sił Powietrznych i…

— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) August 28, 2025

Krakowian was a career Air Force officer who often shared glimpses of both his professional and personal life on social media.

His personal Instagram account, @slab_twindad, included posts of his flying career as well as photos with his family.

Polish General Ireneusz Nowak confirmed that Krakowian is survived by his wife and two young sons.

AirSHOW Radom, which attracts military and civilian aviation teams from around the world, is one of Europe’s largest airshows.

The Polish F-16 Tiger Demonstration Team, led by Krakowian, had been scheduled to perform during the event.

Following the crash, officials did not immediately confirm whether the team’s performance would proceed.

The incident is the latest in a string of recent airshow accidents across Europe.

Additional footage of the Polish Air Force F-16 demonstrator crash this evening in Radom. pic.twitter.com/VORLlCrHiR

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 28, 2025

Just weeks earlier, a Spanish Air Force F-18 Hornet nearly crashed into spectators during a low-altitude maneuver at an airshow in Gijón, Spain.

Polish military officials stated that an investigation into the cause of the F-16 crash has been launched.

The General Command expressed condolences to Krakowian’s family and noted that he had been recognized for his dedication and service to the nation.

The loss of Krakowian marks a significant blow to the Polish Air Force, particularly its demonstration program, which has long served as a symbol of the country’s aviation capabilities and military professionalism on the international stage.

AirSHOW Radom 2025 is expected to continue this weekend, though officials have indicated that tributes will be held in honor of the fallen pilot.