Polish Air Force F-16 crashes killing pilot Major Maciej ‘Slab’ Krakowian; Radom Air Show cancelled

A Polish Air Force pilot died on Thursday evening, August 28, when an F-16 fighter jet went down during a training flight in central Poland. The crash, which occurred around 7:25 p.m. CET, is the first involving an F-16 in the country’s aviation history. The aircraft belonged to the Polish Air Force’s F-16 Tiger Demo Team and was rehearsing for the Radom International Air Show, scheduled for August 30–31.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed this and paid tribute, writing on X, “In the F-16 plane crash, a Polish pilot was killed. Rest in peace! To the family and loved ones, I offer my deepest condolences from the bottom of my heart.”



Footage circulating on social media shows an aircraft attempting a barrel roll before crashing. Fortunately, no injuries to bystanders have been reported. The Radom air show has been canceled for the weekend.

Who was the pilot of the Polish F-16 fighter Jet?

A statement from the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces, as reported by the TVP world, identified the pilot as flying ace Major Maciej ‘Slab’ Krakowian.

He was the leader of the display team and, earlier in August, was awarded the ‘As the Crow Flies’ Trophy by aviation enthusiasts for the “best overall flying demonstration” at the 2025 Royal International Air Tattoo, the world’s largest military airshow.

An experienced combat pilot with over 1,000 F-16 flying hours, Krakowian was an instructor at the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznań. The General Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on Thursday that the accident involved an aircraft from that airbase.

Krakowian was a graduate of the Aviation Training Institute in Dęblin and the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where he studied for four years.

F-16 Tiger Demo Team

The F-16 Tiger Demo Team is the official F-16 demonstration team of the Polish Air Force. It is part of the 6th Fighter Squadron (6 Eskadra Lotnicza), which features a tiger emblem, according to Aviationist.

As per the outlet, the Tiger Demo Team flies the F-16C Block 52+, and it is the only team in Europe to utilize conformal fuel tanks during the airshow season. The team's leader and demo pilot is Major Maciej "SLAB" Krakowian, who assumed this role in 2023.

About Radom Air Show

The Radom Air Show, held every two years in the Polish city of Radom since 2000, is the country’s most popular aviation event. Staged on the last weekend of August, it brings together military aircraft from across Europe and beyond for aerial displays and stunts.

History of crashes in Radom Air Show

The Radom Air Show has also witnessed tragic accidents in its history. On 1 September 2007, two Zlin Z-526 aircraft from Poland’s AZL Żelazny aerobatic team collided mid-air during a maneuver in which three planes converged toward a central point. The crash killed both pilots.

Two years later, on 30 August 2009, a Belarusian Sukhoi Su-27UBM fighter jet crashed while performing at the show