Ukraine admits to crashing F-16 again

According to RT, this is the third F-16 to crash since Kiev began receiving this modern fighter jet from its Western allies.

According to a statement from the Ukrainian Air Force, at around 3:30 a.m. on May 16 (local time), the ground control station lost contact with the aircraft while it was performing a defensive combat mission. Kiev did not announce the specific location where the incident occurred.

F-16 fighter jet of the Ukrainian Air Force. Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Officials said the pilot, whose identity has not been released, destroyed three aerial targets and was attacking a fourth with the plane’s cannon when he encountered technical problems. The Ukrainian pilot attempted to steer the plane away from populated areas before ejecting.

The F-16 pilot who crashed was brought back by rescuers in stable condition.

The Ukrainian Air Force announced that it had established a commission to investigate the cause of the incident.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the incident.

The US gave the green light for European NATO allies to deliver F-16s to Ukraine from August 2023 under President Joe Biden. However, the first F-16s will not be delivered until mid-2024. Ukraine was promised more than 80 F-16s, but it is unclear how many are combat-ready.

This incident marks the third time Ukraine has lost an F-16 fighter jet. One was shot down by Russia in April 2025, killing the pilot. Another was lost in 2024 while responding to another Russian airstrike – the pilot was also killed.

Initially, many Ukrainian officials hoped that the F-16 would help strengthen their air defense capabilities, but Western experts soon warned that the aircraft was unlikely to change the situation on the battlefield. Later, Ukraine also admitted that the F-16 could not compete with Russia's most modern fighters, and complained about the logistical difficulties in deploying this type of aircraft.

On the Russian side, Moscow has repeatedly criticized the West's provision of weapons to Ukraine, saying that it only prolongs the conflict without changing the outcome. President Vladimir Putin once declared that F-16 fighters operated by Ukraine "will be burned up" like other Western weapons.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/ukraine-thua-nhan-lai-lam-roi-f-16-post1541846.html