An elite Tiger Demo aerobatic team member was killed instantly while practicing a barrel roll ahead of now-cancelled airshow

A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet, part of elite Tiger Demo aerobatic team, crashed during rehearsals for the Radom Air Show, killing the pilot instantly, the country’s military has confirmed.

The incident occurred at Radom Air Base, around 100 km south of Warsaw, at about 7:25 pm local time (5:25 pm GMT) on Thursday, while the pilot was performing a high-speed barrel roll maneuver.

Multiple videos captured by shocked spectators from different angles showed the F-16 descending sharply at full afterburner before striking the runway, failing to complete the maneuver. The impact sent a fireball and thick smoke into the sky as the burning jet slid along the runway, with no sign that the pilot attempted to eject.

🇵🇱 BREAKING: A Polish F-16 has crashed during practice for the Radom Air Show in Poland.

Judging by videos posted on social media, the pilot did not eject. pic.twitter.com/TR0d4pYyyq
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) August 28, 2025

Emergency crews rushed to the site, but the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz called the incident “a great loss for the Air Force and the entire Polish Army,” extending condolences to the pilot’s family. Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed the tribute, describing the pilot’s death as “a tragedy that fills us with grief.”

🚨 #BREAKING Watch horrifying footage as a F-16 fighter jet crashes bursting in flames training for a upcoming Air Show ⁰⁰📌 #Sadków | #Poland ⁰
Watch Horrifying footage has emerged showing the tragic crash of a Polish F-16 Tiger Demo jet during rehearsals for the Radom Air Show… pic.twitter.com/mdT3aY6Tjx
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) August 28, 2025

The victim was identified as Major Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian, one of Poland’s most experienced aerobatic pilots and the lead performer of the Tiger Demo Team. According to the official airshow program, his display in the F-16 Fighting Falcon was to be a highlight of this year’s event, showcasing extreme maneuvers “full of dynamics, precision and extreme load factors.”

🇵🇱 BREAKING: F-16 Crashes, Pilot Killed Instantly

A tragic accident occurred in Radom, Poland, when a F-16 fighter jet crashed during preparations for an air show.

The pilot, performing a loop, miscalculated the altitude, causing the jet to slam into the tarmac and erupt in a… pic.twitter.com/DEG0l2fLTK
— SVS NEWS AGENCY (@svsnewsagency) August 28, 2025

The Polish Armed Forces said the jet belonged to the 31st Tactical Air Base at Krzesiny, near Poznań. Officials stressed that no one on the ground was injured, and that a formal investigation has been launched into the cause of the accident.

The crash coincided with Polish Aviation Day and took place just days before the opening of the Radom Air Show, one of Europe’s largest aviation events, which was expected to attract international teams and tens of thousands of spectators. Organizers announced the immediate cancellation of the airshow following the tragedy.

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Polish pilot dies in horror F-16 crash (VIDEOS)