Ukraine loses another F-16 fighter during nighttime air defence mission

Ukraine has lost another F-16 fighter jet, marking the latest in a series of setbacks involving the US-made aircraft.

According to the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, communication with the jet was lost in the early hours of May 16 during a mission to repel an enemy airstrike, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

The pilot successfully ejected and was rescued shortly thereafter.

“At approximately 03:30 on May 16, 2025, contact was lost with an F-16 aircraft,” the military reported. “The Ukrainian fighter was carrying out a combat task to intercept an enemy aerial attack.”

Preliminary reports indicate that before the incident, the pilot had successfully destroyed three airborne targets and was engaging a fourth using the aircraft’s cannon when a technical malfunction occurred.

“The pilot managed to steer the jet away from a populated area and ejected safely. Thanks to the rapid response of our search and rescue team, he was quickly located and evacuated,” the Air Force Communications Directorate confirmed.

The pilot’s condition is described as stable. He is reportedly in a secure location, and there is no threat to his life or health.

The F-16 is a fourth-generation American multi-role light fighter, originally developed for the US Air Force. Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway have pledged a total of 79 F-16s to Ukraine. The first batch arrived in July 2024, and according to Forbes, Ukraine has received approximately 18 of them to date.

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, previously stated that the aircraft were to be stationed at least 40 kilometres from the front line to reduce the risk of being targeted by Russian forces. However, incidents like the most recent one underscore the persistent dangers faced by Ukrainian pilots even under these precautions.

This latest loss is the third publicly known incident involving Ukrainian-operated F-16s. On the night of August 26, 2024, Ukraine lost its first F-16 during a Russian aerial assault. The pilot, celebrated airman Oleksii Mes — call sign “Moonfish” — was killed. Another loss occurred on April 12, 2025, when 26-year-old pilot Pavlo Ivanov died during a combat mission.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that the Ukrainian Air Force would need between 120 and 130 F-16s to effectively counter the growing aerial threats posed by Russia.

By Tamilla Hasanova