A tragic accident struck Thursday evening when a Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet from the Tiger Demo Team crashed during rehearsals for Air Show 2025, killing the team’s commander.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:25 p.m. local time at Radom Airport. Witnesses described the jet suddenly nosediving over the runway and striking the ground before bursting into flames.
The pilot was identified as Maciej Krakowiak, commander of the Tiger Demo Team. He died in the crash.
Following the accident, organizers canceled this year’s Air Show Radom, which was scheduled for the coming weekend. The event was expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators from across Europe and feature performances by the Polish F-16 Tiger Demo Team, the Royal Air Force Red Arrows, Greece’s F-16 “Zeus” team, as well as Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale fighters.
The Tiger Demo Team is Poland’s official F-16 demonstration unit, widely recognized at European air events for its dynamic performances showcasing the jet’s agility.
Air Show Radom has long been one of Central Europe’s premier aviation events, bringing together military display teams and aviation enthusiasts. Its sudden cancellation underscores the severity of the incident and the profound loss felt by Poland’s Air Force.
The F-16 remains a backbone of Poland’s combat aviation, even as the country prepares to introduce F-35A Lightning II jets into service. The Tiger Demo Team has served not only as a display of pilot skill but also as a representation of Poland’s air power on the international stage.