F-16 crash: Pilot dead after horror runway crash in Poland while practising for airshow

Max Corstorphan
The Nightly
An F-16 has exploded in flames when a pilot crashed practising for an airshow.

Shocking footage has emerged of the moment an F-16 crashed while a pilot was practising a stunt for an airshow.

Polish man Major Maciej Krakowian was piloting an F-16 Tiger Demo jet, practising a loop stunt, when he impacted the runway, with the jet bursting into flames.

Tragically, Mr Krakowian didn’t eject in time and died instantly.

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The moment of impact was captured by aviation-loving onlookers.

WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

The jet was seen failing to gain altitude after it came out of a loop manoeuvre, with flames erupting as it made contact with the tarmac.

Coming in at speed, the craft skidded along the runway, with fire filling the tarmac as the jet came to a stop.

The crash occurred in the Polish city of Radom.

The Polish military and air crash investigators are now reviewing the horrific incident.

Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the scene as a “tragedy”.

“In the F-16 plane crash, a Polish Army pilot died – an officer who always served the Fatherland with dedication and great courage,” he wrote on X.

“I pay tribute to his memory. To the family and loved ones, I offer my deepest condolences.

“This is a great loss for the Air Force and the entire Polish Army.”

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