A Polish Air Force pilot has died after his F-16 fighter jet crashed during a rehearsal for an airshow in central Poland, the country’s defence ministry has said.
The crash happened in the city of Radom, central Poland, on Thursday, the ministry said on Friday.
The General Command of the Armed Forces said the accident involved an aircraft from the 31st Tactical Air Base near the city of Poznan and that there were no injuries to any bystanders.
“Rescue operations were immediately initiated at the scene,” it added.
“A Polish Army pilot died in the crash of an F-16 aircraft – an officer who always served his country with dedication and great courage. I pay tribute to his memory,” Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X after arriving at the crash scene.
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Footage obtained by Polish media showed the F-16 performing a barrel roll aerobatic manoeuvre, before crashing in flames as it slid on the ground.
According to local media, the aircraft crashed onto the runway at approximately 5.30pm GMT.
As a result, the Radom Airshow scheduled for the weekend has been cancelled.
