Ukraine loses F-16 plane: pilot ejected in time
16 May 08:16
On the night of May 16, at around 03:30, Ukraine lost contact with the F-16 aircraft. The Ukrainian fighter jet was performing a mission to repel an enemy air attack. This was reported by the Communications Directorate of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“According to preliminary data, the pilot destroyed three air targets and was working on the fourth, using an aircraft gun. However, an emergency situation arose on board. The pilot took the plane away from the settlement and successfully ejected,” the department said.
It is noted that thanks to the prompt work of the search and rescue team, the pilot was quickly found and evacuated.
“The pilot’s condition is satisfactory, he is in a safe place, his life and health are not in danger,” the Ukrainian Air Force emphasized.
A commission has been appointed to objectively clarify all the circumstances and has already begun work.
It should be noted that on April 13, Russia claimed to have shot down an F-16 fighter jet of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force said that on April 12, 26-year-old Ukrainian pilot Pavlo Ivanov was killed during a mission on an F-16 fighter jet, without giving details. According to BBC sources in the Ukrainian government, the fighter jet was probably shot down by a Russian missile. According to the outlet, the source said that the Russians fired three missiles at the plane in total.
Follow us on Telegram: the main news in brief
F-16 for Ukraine
The United States has led the Ukrainian Air Force Development Capability Coalition in operating F-16 multi-role fighters. The Netherlands and Denmark became co-chairs.
In August last year, Denmark and the Netherlands promised to provide Ukraine with 61 F-16 fighters. However, on August 20, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after talks with then-Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, said that Ukraine would receive a total of 42 American F-16s.
In order for the delivery to begin, it was necessary for Ukrainian pilots and maintenance personnel to be trained and for Ukraine to prepare the infrastructure. As reported by , in May 2024, the first group of Ukrainian pilots completed their F-16 training in the United States and headed to Europe.
Although the first aircraft arrived in August, things are not moving quickly. For example, Belgium plans to hand over most of the planes in 2025. Meanwhile, Ukraine has begun to lose even the units it has.
It is not known for certain how many F-16s are in service in Ukraine. In total, Ukraine has been promised more than a hundred F-16s, but at some point.
Follow us on Telegram: the main news in brief
