Polish F-16 Demo Team Crash Investigation Will Last Years, Prosecutor Says
On Thursday, the 28 August, a tragic incident occurred just before the Radom Airshow in Poland. Around 7:30 pm, Lt. Col. Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian lost his life while performing a training display when his F-16C Block 52 Advanced aircraft crashed into the airstrip. The leader of the Tiger Demo Team Poland was preparing for the team’s 7th show of the year, a part of the demonstration group’s 10th anniversary.
The loss of a skilled and talented pilot shook the military aviation world. Weeks before the fatal crash, “SLAB” was awarded the prestigious “As The Crow Flies Trophy” for his solo display at Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford. Tiger Demo Team was at its peak and looking forward to its participation in the biggest airshow event in Europe this summer.
A special team of 14 prosecutors was created to investigate the crash site and conduct a thorough investigation to establish the causes of the tragedy. At the beginning of September, the debris of the jet was successfully collected, alongside the jet’s black box, which will be investigated abroad. Besides that, a small cockpit camera belonging to the pilot was discovered alongside. The investigators were able to extract the video of the last moments of the jet from within the aircraft. “SLAB” was known for recording his acrobatics this way for the Team’s social media and debriefing.
The Prosecutor’s Office Spokesman, Piotr Skiba, announced that the investigation of the crash will take not a couple but at least dozens of months to conclude. The complexity of the F-16 construction, secrecy over some of its crucial components, and flying procedures forced the investigation team to cease any public communication regarding the conclusions at any stage of the examination. The use of F-16 and F-35 aircraft for shows has been suspended indefinitely by the Ministry of Defense until the final results are published.
Lt. Col. Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian was a highly respected pilot and a Tiger Demo Team Leader since 2023, taking on this post after years of experience as a ground safety officer and commentator. He began his flying career at the prestigious United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs which he graduated in 2008. “SLAB” spent almost 1,200 hours flying the F-16 in combat and acrobatic capacity over the span of over 10 years in the 6th Tactical Aviation Squadron “Tigers”, 31st Tactical Aviation Airbase, Krzesiny. His tragic death marks the very first F-16 mishap within the Polish Air Force after almost 20 years of service.