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Ukraine reports loss of F-16 fighter jet

Published July 30, 2026 at 7:02 AM UTC

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Ukraine's Air Force has confirmed the loss of an F-16 fighter jet during a combat mission. The pilot successfully ejected and is in satisfactory condition. The incident occurred on May 16, 2025, at approximately 03:30 local time, while the aircraft was engaged in repelling a Russian aerial attack. Preliminary reports indicate that the pilot destroyed three aerial targets and was engaging a fourth using the aircraft's cannon when an emergency situation arose. The pilot diverted the aircraft away from a populated area before ejecting. A search and rescue team quickly located and evacuated the pilot, who is now in a safe location with no threat to his life or health.