A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot ejected safely after downing three Russian air targets and engaging a fourth during a night-time air defense mission, Ukraine’s Air Force Command reported early Friday.
According to the report, the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on May 16, while the aircraft was carrying out a combat mission to repel a Russian aerial assault.
Preliminary data indicates that the pilot used onboard weapons, including an aircraft cannon, to destroy three targets and was working on a fourth when an emergency developed on board.
Despite the malfunction, the pilot managed to steer the aircraft away from populated areas before ejecting.
A search-and-rescue team quickly located and evacuated the pilot. Officials say his condition is satisfactory and his life is not in danger.
“A commission has been appointed to objectively clarify all the circumstances,” the Air Force said in a statement, adding that the investigation is already underway.
The Ukrainian Air Force’s loss of an F-16 on May 16 marks the third confirmed combat loss of the relatively small fleet of Vipers provided by NATO allies.
The first F-16 loss occurred on Aug. 26, 2024, when pilot Oleksii “Moonfish” Mes was killed while responding to a large-scale Russian missile attack.
The second incident was reported on April 12, 2025, involving 26-year-old fighter pilot Pavlo Ivanov, who was killed during a combat mission in an F-16.
Although the official statement did not specify the location or exact circumstances, both Russian and Ukrainian military bloggers claimed the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile (SAM). Some speculated the jet may have been downed either by Russian forces or by friendly fire from Ukrainian air defenses.
The Ukrainian Air Force stated:
“Ukrainian pilots work to the maximum of human and technical capabilities every time, risking their lives during combat missions. Pavlo was one of them!”
The statement added that an interdepartmental commission is continuing to investigate the full circumstances of the tragedy.
In early April, US Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), told the US Senate Armed Services Committee that Ukrainian F-16 pilots are flying “every day.”
“They fly every day; they’ve defeated a large number of cruise missile threats, and they’ve delivered an awful lot of offensive attacks as well – specifically bombing attacks in the east,” Cavoli said.
He confirmed the fighters are conducting both defensive missions against Russian cruise missile and Shahed drone attacks, as well as offensive airstrikes against Russian targets in Ukraine’s eastern regions.
This news will be updated