F-16 just entered combat and crashed in Ukraine

Initial reports indicate the F-16 was not shot down by enemy fire, despite the incident occurring during Russian missile strikes across Ukraine on Monday. Instead, the crash may have been due to pilot error, a US official said.

Two Ukrainian Air Force F-16 fighter jets take off earlier this month. Photo: AP

Ukraine used F-16s in combat for the first time to shoot down Russian missiles during clashes earlier this week, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Ukrainian Air Force did not confirm the crash or the pilot's condition. The Pentagon referred questions to the Ukrainian Air Force for comment.

But Ihor Polishchuk, Mayor of Lutsk, announced that Ukrainian Air Force pilot Oleksiy Mes died on Monday during a combat mission over the city.

Mes was one of the first Ukrainian pilots to be trained on the F-16. His nickname was "Moonfish" and he frequently appeared in the media and traveled to Washington to lobby the US to send F-16s to Ukraine.

To get the F-16 fighter jets, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had to spend many months convincing President Joe Biden to give the green light for European countries to transfer the aircraft to Ukraine last year.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the first of 80 F-16s promised by the West in aid have arrived in Ukraine. Photo: Times of Israel

Ukraine hopes the advanced Western fighters will give its forces an edge on the battlefield, particularly in stopping Russian aircraft and missiles from attacking Ukrainian territory and helping protect troops on the front lines. But they are also vulnerable to Russian anti-aircraft missiles and are high-value targets.

President Zelenskyy announced on August 4 that the first batch of 80 F-16s promised by the West had arrived in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force did not provide a number, but a second US official said a total of six F-16s had arrived and that Ukraine had six pilots trained to fly them.

Nguyen Khanh (according to WSJ)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/may-bay-f-16-vua-xung-tran-da-bi-roi-o-ukraine-post309915.html