Polish pilot killed in horrific crash during airshow rehearsal

Gdynia-Kosakowo airport in northern Poland. Photo / Joymaster

Warning: Footage may be distressing for some viewers

A Polish pilot was killed after his aircraft crashed during an airshow display rehearsal at an airport in northern Poland.

On July 12, the local military was rehearsing for the Gdynia Naval Aviation Brigade’s 30th Anniversary event at Gdynia-Kosakowo airport when the incident occurred, Airlive reported.

Harrowing footage of the incident has been circulating on social media, showing an M-346 Bielik crashing into the ground before it exploded into a fiery blaze. From the video, it did did not appear the pilot was able to eject.

Polish armed forces said that pilot Robert “Killer” Jel died in the incident.

“It is with deep regret that we inform you that today, during an M-346 Bielik training flight at the airport of the 43rd Naval Aviation Base in Gdynia Babich-Doly, Major Pilot Robert ‘Killer’ Jel tragically died,” posted the General Armed Forces Command on X.

Odszedł na „Wieczną Wartę"... Z głębokim żalem zawiadamiamy, że dzisiaj podczas wykonywania lotu treningowego M-346 Bielik na lotnisku 43 Bazy Lotnictwa Morskiego w Gdyni Babich-Dołach zginął tragicznie mjr pil. Robert „Killer" Jeł.

Łącząc się w żałobie i smutku przekazujemy… pic.twitter.com/F698yYfIFc

— Dowództwo Generalne (@DGeneralneRSZ) July 12, 2024

The operational body of the armed forces paid tribute to Jel with a black-and-white video of him smiling as a bird of prey rests on his arm briefly before taking off. “This is how we will remember him, always cheerful and smiling,” the post on X read.

Odszedł na "Wieczną Wartę".

Takiego Go zapamiętamy, zawsze wesoły i uśmiechnięty... mjr pil. Robert "Killer" Jeł.

Spoczywaj w pokoju 🫡 pic.twitter.com/bHtmwvT9NQ

— Dowództwo Operacyjne (@DowOperSZ) July 12, 2024

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda also took to social media to express his condolences: “It is with deep regret that I received the news about the crash of the M-346 Bielik plane, in which the pilot of the Polish Air Force tragically died. This is a painful loss for the entire Polish Army,” he said.

According to FlightGlobal, an investigation into the incident is now under way.

Two months ago, a student pilot in New Zealand was killed after his aircraft hit a sandspit, prompting warnings from authorities about pilot fatigue and visual illusions after it was discovered he had already flown that morning.