The jet, assigned to the Polish F-16 Tiger Demo Team, was rehearsing for the Radom Air Show planned for Aug. 30 and 31.
A Polish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the F-16 Tiger Demo Team, crashed at around 7:25 pm local time (5:25 pm UTC) on Aug. 28, 2025, at Radom Air Base, Poland. The pilot, Major Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian, died in the impact, according to government sources.
The aircraft was rehearsing the Tiger Demo Team’s display for the Radom Air Show, which was planned for Aug. 30 and 31. A short video surfaced on social media shows the last seconds before the tragic accident, with the aircraft descending during a maneuver, hitting the ground.
Very sad. Reportedly Polish F-16 at Radom pic.twitter.com/N1hmO6UpEs
— The Aviationist (@TheAviationist) August 28, 2025
The F-16 was flying at max power with the afterburner lit, maneuvering to complete the figure. The video doesn’t appear to show an ejection.
Update
The Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed on X the death of the pilot.
I’m at the scene of the tragedy. A Polish Army pilot was killed in an F-16 crash – an officer who always served his country with dedication and great courage.
I pay tribute to his memory. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
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
The General Command of the Polish Armed Forces confirmed that the accident involved an aircraft from the 31st Tactical Air Base at Krzesiny, near Poznań, where the F-16 Tiger Demo Team is based, and that there were no injuries on the ground. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene.
It is with deep sorrow that we share the tragic news that Major Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian, pilot of the F-16 Tiger Demo Team, lost his life this afternoon during rehearsal for the Radom Airshow.
🕊️ Blue skies and eternal tailwinds, SLAB. You will never be forgotten. 🐅🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/xnQ9pmWp5y
— European Airshows (@EuroAirshow) August 28, 2025
A statement from the Polish Armed Forces’ Operational Command further confirmed the accident, which also happened on the Polish Aviation Day, transforming a day of pride and remembrance in a moment of unimaginable grief and emptiness.
Following the crash, the organizers of the biannual Radom Air Show have cancelled the event. Today’s accident is also the first involving a Polish F-16.
F-16 Tiger Demo Team
The F-16 Tiger Demo Team is the official F-16 demonstration team of the Polish Air Force. The team is part of the 6 Eskadra Lotnicza (6th Fighter Squadron), whose emblem is the Tiger.
Flying the F-16C Block 52+, the Tiger Demo Team is the only in Europe to fly with conformal fuel tanks during this year’s airshow season. The leader of the team and demo pilot is Major Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian, which stepped into the role in 2023.
This is a developing news, we will update this article once new details emerge.
