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Ukrainian Air Force Loses Contact With F-16 During Combat Mission, Pilot Ejects Safely

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Amira Barkhush
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Ukrainian Air Force Loses Contact With F-16 During Combat Mission, Pilot Ejects Safely
A General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon performs at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport on March 29, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Source: Getty Images)

A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet crashed in the early hours of May 16 while repelling a Russian air assault, the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

According to preliminary information, contact with the aircraft was lost at approximately 3:30 a.m.

The fighter jet had been engaging Russian targets as part of an air defense mission. The pilot successfully destroyed three aerial targets and was attacking a fourth using the aircraft’s onboard cannon when an onboard malfunction occurred.

The pilot managed to steer the jet away from populated areas before ejecting. A search and rescue team quickly located and evacuated the pilot. He is reported to be in satisfactory condition, with no threat to his life or health, and is currently in a secure location.

An official investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.

This marks the third loss of an F-16 fighter jet recently introduced into service with Ukraine’s Air Force.

On May 15, it was reported that Norway will complete the delivery of its promised F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by 2025. Defense Minister Ture O. Sandvik has confirmed that some of the aircraft have already been delivered, with the rest set to arrive by the end of 2025.

On April 12, Ukrainian Air Force pilot Pavlo Ivanov was killed during a combat mission on an F-16 fighter jet. The Air Force then emphasized that F-16 pilots are operating under extremely challenging conditions, conducting combat missions on a daily basis.

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