F-16 fighter jet crashes in Ukraine, experienced pilot killed

(Patria) - The Ukrainian military confirmed that an F-16 fighter jet of its air force crashed, which is the first such loss since these long-awaited American planes arrived in the country this month.

"The plane crashed, and the pilot was killed while approaching a target during a Russian air raid," the Ukrainian General Staff announced yesterday on its Facebook profile, Hina reports.

The F-16 planes "demonstrated high effectiveness" and shot down four Russian cruise missiles, they added.

"Contact with one of the aircraft was lost as it approached the next target. As it turned out later, the plane crashed, and the pilot was killed," the report states.

Ukraine has not disclosed details about the size of its new fleet, but the loss of an F-16 has certainly significantly weakened its existing capabilities.

Citing a well-informed source, The Times of London reported that Ukraine has six such aircraft.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on August 4 that his pilots had begun operating F-16 aircraft, calling that moment an important turning point in the fight against the invasion that Russia launched 29 months ago.

"It appears the plane crash on Monday was not the result of Russian fire, and possible causes – pilot error or mechanical failure – are still being investigated," a U.S. defense official told Reuters.

Military analysts have estimated that the arrival of a small number of aircraft, despite being significant, is unlikely to reverse the course of the war.

Russia has had time to prepare defenses against the F-16, and Ukraine has had to rely on a depleted air force that is much smaller and nowhere near as sophisticated as Russia's.

The Western Air Command of Ukraine announced on Facebook the obituary of pilot Oleksiy Mesi, stating that he died on Monday while repelling an attack, but it does not mention that he was piloting an F-16.

Ukraine’s Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Oleksiy “Moonfish” Mes’.

Gone in the sky forever. pic.twitter.com/hvfOlLc4n7

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) August 29, 2024

CNN reported that his nickname was "Moonfish" and that he had been training for F-16 missions in 2023.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Kyiv has urged allies to supply modern aircraft to strengthen the country's small and aging Soviet-era fleet.