Ukraine’s Air Force reports F-16 crash during combat mission, pilot ejects
On 29 July, Ukraine's Air Force lost contact with an F-16 fighter jet while it was carrying out a combat mission on one section of the front. The pilot ejected safely.
Source: Ukraine's Air Force
Quote: "The pilot was carrying out a combat mission on one section of the front to intercept enemy air assets.
Early reports indicate that an emergency occurred on board the aircraft, forcing the pilot to eject."
Details: The Air Force said the pilot was evacuated after ejecting and taken to a medical facility to be examined. His life is not in danger.
Experts and law enforcement officers are working at the crash site. According to the Air Force, there were no civilian casualties or damage on the ground.
The cause of the incident is being investigated.
Previously: On 22 July, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that a Ukrainian F-16 had shot down a Russian fighter jet in its first-ever air-to-air combat.
Background:
- In August 2024, Ukraine's General Staff reported that an F-16 fighter jet had crashed while repelling a Russian missile attack, killing the pilot. It was later reported that the pilot was Oleksii Mes.
- On 12 April 2025, 26-year-old pilot Pavlo Ivanov was killed while flying an F-16 on a combat mission.
- In May 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force lost another F-16 during the repulsion of a Russian air attack after the pilot encountered an onboard emergency. He managed to steer the aircraft away from a populated area and eject safely.
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