Poland cancels air show after F-16 pilot dies during rehearsal
Poland has cancelled an air show planned for the weekend in Radom, central Poland, following the tragic death of a pilot when a Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during the rehearsal for the event, the defence minister announced late on Thursday.
The crash occurred around 7:30pm on Thursday during a training maneuver when an F-16C from the Tiger Demo Team crashed into the ground near the runway in Radom.
The pilot, Major Maciej 'Slab' Krakowian served as the instructor and leader of Poland's F-16 Tiger Demo Team and was one of the country's most decorated fighter pilots, Poland's Operational Command of the Armed Forces (DORSZ) wrote on the X platform on Thursday evening, offering condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
The accident involved an aircraft from the 31st Tactical Air Base near western city of Poznan, the General Command of the Armed Forces reported. No bystanders were injured in the incident, it added.
Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz arrived at the crash scene on Thursday evening, where he expressed condolences to the family of the deceased during a press conference held at the 42nd Aviation Training Base in Radom. He said that the crash resulted in the death of an outstanding pilot, a soldier of the Polish Army, who served at the 31st Tactical Air Base Poznan-Krzesiny and was a long-time participant in air shows.
He added that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Prime Minister Tusk and President Karol Nawrocki extended their condolences to the pilot's family via the X platform on Thursday evening.(PAP)mmr/jch
