Polish Air Force looses first F-16

A Polish Air Force (Siły Powietrzne RP) F-16 Fighting Falcon (serial 4056, msn JC-17) was practising for the upcoming AirSHOW RADOM 2025 (to be held 30-31 August), showcasing multiple manoeuvres, when the pilot proceeded to start a looping at a low altitude.

Footage of the incident shows the aircraft entering a steep descent over the runway and failed to recover, striking the ground and bursting into flames. At the time and as can be seen in the video the F-16 was using its afterburners, which seems an odd choice for such a manoeuvre at low altitude?

The Fighting Falcon was part of Tiger Demo Team, and at this year's RIAT the pilot (Mjr. Slab Krakowian) received the accolade for best overall flying.

Poland’s F-16 Tiger Demo is the Air Force’s official F-16 display team. The team is associated with the 31st Tactical Air Base at Poznań-Krzesiny, which operates F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft.

Sadly, this is the first Polish F-16 to be lost during a crash.

The serial requires confirmation.

Picture: Ian French captured F-16C 4056 at the recently held Iniochos 2025 exercise, held at Andravida air base, Greece