The crash of a Polish training aircraft was caught on video (3 photos + 3 videos)

Category: Aviation, Fires and Catastrophes, PEGI 16

16 July 2024

The aircraft crashed directly into the runway, the pilot did not attempt to eject and died.

A Polish Air Force Bielik M-346 training aircraft crashed on Friday afternoon at an air base in Gdynia. Footage published by eyewitnesses shows how the plane, while performing an aerobatics maneuver, falls onto the airfield and explodes. Perhaps the crash was due to a pilot error - it is clear that he tried to level the car, but he did not have enough height. However, the Polish military has not yet named the cause of the crash.

According to the chief inspector of the Polish Army Air Force, General Ireneusz Nowak, the plane hit the landing strip slab, and the pilot did not attempt to eject and died.

“The pilot, who was acting as deputy squadron commander, died on the spot. He did not attempt to eject,” Novak told reporters.

It is reported that the flight exercises during which the plane crashed were carried out ahead of Saturday's performances in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Polish Naval Aviation Brigade. Due to the plane crash, the celebrations were cancelled.

Let us add that the M-346 Bielik two-seat, twin-engine training aircraft, used by the country’s Air Force to improve pilot training, is the Polish version of the Italian Aermacchi M-346 aircraft, which in turn is a clone of the Yak-130. Initially, this aircraft was created jointly with the Italians, but due to disagreements, the parties began to work independently.

Externally, the M-346 has American engines, British ejection seats and avionics created by various Western manufacturers.