The recent F-16 fighter jet crash, killing a Ukrainian pilot, has raised concerns about the risks associated with the aircraft’s operation. The F-16 warplanes, hailed as a game-changer, were heavily lobbied by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to bolster Ukraine’s air defence capabilities, touting them as a crucial tool in countering Russian advances.
Ukrainian military on Thursday said that an F-16 jet crashed and its pilot died while approaching a target during a Russian airstrike on Monday.
"Four enemy missiles were shot down by airborne weapons...Connection with one of the aircraft was lost while it was approaching the next target," the Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement.
After the F-16 jet crash, Zelenskyy fired the commander of the country's air force on Friday. Lt. Gen. After firing, Mykola Oleshchuk, Ukraine president said, “we need to protect people. Take care of all our soldiers.”
Ukraine needs to strengthen its army on the command level, he added.
Meanwhile, Ukraine had started an investigation into the crash. US experts have also joined the Ukrainian investigation to assess why an F-16 war that Ukraine received from its Western partners crashed.
In a Telegram post, Oleshchuk said that a detailed analysis was being conducted into the F-16 crash. “We must carefully understand what happened, what the circumstances are, and whose responsibility it is,” he wrote.
The crash was the first loss of an F-16 in Ukraine. Warplanes had arrived at the end of last month and at least six are believed to have been delivered by European countries. Denmark's F-16 fighter jets are also working in Ukraine in its battle against Russia.
An air force statement said, Russian forces fired five missiles and 74 Shahed drones at Ukrainian targets. Air defences stopped two missiles 60 drones and 14 other drones before reaching the target, it added.