A tragic incident occurred when a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet crashed, potentially due to friendly fire from Ukraine’s own air defense, sources within the air force revealed to Voice of America (VOA).
The crash on Monday marked the first loss of a U.S.-made F-16 since their introduction to the Ukrainian military, as confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Unfortunately, the pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Oleksii Mes, lost his life in the accident, as noted by Ukraine’s Army General Staff on Thursday.
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During the recent Russian missile and drone assaults, Western-supplied F-16 jets played a crucial role. The General Staff reported successful interceptions, noting that four enemy cruise missiles were shot down. However, tragedy struck when one of the F-16s crashed on approach to a target, killing the pilot.
Authorities are currently investigating the exact cause of the crash, with potential explanations including friendly fire, a technical failure, or pilot error. As one air force source described to VOA, “The exact causes will only be known after the investigation is completed.”
The Ukrainian Air Command Zakhid hailed pilot Mes as a hero, stating, “He heroically fought his last battle in the sky,” recognizing his efforts to defend against Russian assaults and the sacrifice he made for his country.
President Zelensky has consistently urged Western allies to provide advanced military aircraft to bolster Ukraine’s defenses as the conflict with Russia drags into its third year. In July, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that NATO allies had begun transferring F-16s to Ukraine, emphasizing their role in aiding the country’s defense efforts.
Reports indicated that F-16s had recently been spotted over Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, reportedly causing concern among local officials. Just days before, Zelensky confirmed the arrival of these fighter jets, expressing pride in the Ukrainian pilots who had begun operating them.
Although Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium had promised over 60 F-16s, earlier reports suggested that Ukraine might receive far fewer than expected this year—only six this summer with a potential 20 by the end of 2024.
Zelensky mentioned on Tuesday that the newly-acquired F-16s had already been instrumental in intercepting Russian missiles and drones.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh acknowledged the reports of the F-16 potentially being downed by friendly fire but refrained from confirming it, stating, “That would really be something for the Ukrainians to speak to.” She added that the U.S. had not been asked to take part in investigating the incident.