Major Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, regarded as one of Poland’s most accomplished F-16 pilots and leader of the Tiger Demo Team, was killed on Thursday evening during a practice flight ahead of the Radom Air Show.
Based at the 31st Tactical Air Base in Poznań-Krzesiny, Major Krakowian combined his duties as an instructor with the role of display team leader, showcasing the Polish Air Force’s F-16C/D Fighting Falcon Block 52+ at high-profile air displays both at home and abroad. A graduate of the Aviation School in Dęblin, he went on to study at the United States Air Force Academy, completing numerous specialist courses, international exercises and operational deployments.
From the outset, Krakowian’s career was bound up with tactical aviation. Over the years he completed more than 1,400 flying hours, including around 1,200 on the F-16. His expertise led him to school new pilots and later to head the Tiger Demo Team, Poland’s official F-16 display unit.
The team’s displays highlighted the manoeuvrability and combat potential of the Fighting Falcon and earned international admiration. Only weeks before his death, Major Krakowian was applauded at the Royal International Air Tattoo in the United Kingdom, where he received the “As the Crow Flies” trophy, a sign of his standing within the global aviation community.
On 28 August, during a training sortie for the Radom International Air Show, his aircraft crashed near the runway. Major Krakowian did not survive. No one else was injured.
The accident ended the career of a pilot who had become a symbol of Polish military aviation. As leader of the Tiger Demo Team he left a permanent mark on the service, embodying both skill and dedication.
In a tribute posted on X, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command wrote:
“The story of Polish aviation is one of continuity – from Żwirko and Wigura’s victory in 1932, through the defenders of 1939 and the airmen of the Battle of Britain, to those who, in peacetime, built a modern Air Force. Major Krakowian stood in that tradition, uniting mastery of his craft with the ethos of service.”
The statement added that thousands had been captivated by his displays, and described his death as an “irreplaceable loss to the entire aviation family”.
“Farewell, Master. Your flights will remain in our memory as a symbol of excellence, passion and sacrifice – the very qualities that have defined Polish aviation for decades.”
Condolences were offered to his family, friends and comrades, with the hope that his courage and professionalism would inspire future generations of Polish airmen.
Source: PAP
Photo: @PolishFlight
Tomasz Modrzejewski
