An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Poland on Thursday, resulting in the death of its pilot during a training flight. The incident occurred around 7:25 p.m. local time, just days before the AirSHOW Radom 2025, which is set to take place this weekend.

The pilot, Major Maciej Krakowian, was leading the Polish Air Force's F-16 Tiger Demonstration Team. He was performing maneuvers when the aircraft went into a steep dive and failed to recover, crashing violently and bursting into flames. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a trail of flames as the jet impacted the ground.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed the pilot's death in a statement. He expressed condolences to Krakowian's family, stating, "This is a great loss for the Air Force and the entire Polish Army."

Krakowian, 35, was an experienced pilot with over 1,000 flying hours on the F-16. He had recently been awarded the 'As the Crow Flies' trophy for delivering the best flying demonstration at the Royal International Air Tattoo, a prestigious military air show. He was also an instructor at the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznan.

The crash has raised concerns, coming shortly after other international aviation incidents this year. The Polish Air Force is expected to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Krakowian is survived by his wife and two young sons. His contributions to the Polish military and his dedication to flying will be remembered by colleagues and the aviation community.