Polish F-16C crashes during Radom Air Show training: What We Know
The Polish defense minister went to the crash site and confirmed the loss of the pilot.
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The Polish Air Force suffered the loss of one of its F-16C Block 52+ fighter jets today following an accident during training flights for the Radom Air Show 2025. The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon near Radom-Sadków Airport, located roughly 100 kilometers south of Warsaw, claiming the life of the aircraft’s pilot.
The information was first reported through OSINT monitoring channels, which stated that the fighter was performing aerobatic maneuvers in preparation for the upcoming air show. Although training flights were scheduled for the day, Polish authorities have not yet issued an official statement detailing the circumstances of the incident.
Official reactions
Polish Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz traveled to the crash site and confirmed the pilot’s death, describing him as “an officer who always served his homeland with dedication and great courage.” In a message shared on social media, he expressed his condolences to the pilot’s family and called the event “a great loss for the Air Force and for the entire Polish Armed Forces.”
“I am at the scene of the tragedy. In the crash of the F-16 aircraft, a pilot of the Polish Armed Forces has died — an officer who always served his homeland with dedication and great courage.
I pay tribute to his memory.
To his family and loved ones, I extend my deepest condolences.
This is a great loss for the Air Force and for the entire Polish Armed Forces.” — Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
Poland’s F-16 fleet and the Radom Air Show
Poland currently operates 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ fighter jets, delivered between 2006 and 2008, forming the core of its combat aviation fleet. These aircraft, equipped with AN/APG-68(V)9 radars and Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines, are a cornerstone of the nation’s air defense and its integration into NATO operations.
The incident comes just two weeks after Warsaw signed a $3.8 billion contract to upgrade its entire fleet to the F-16V Viper standard under the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) program. Announced on August 13, the modernization package includes the installation of the AN/APG-83 SABR AESA radar, a new mission computer, advanced electronic warfare systems, and improved communication and interoperability features.
The Radom Air Show, scheduled for next weekend, is Poland’s premier aviation event and one of the largest in Central Europe, serving as a platform for the Polish Air Force to showcase its capabilities both nationally and internationally.
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