Three Ukrainian military pilots, including a skilled pilot who aspired to fly F-16s, were tragically killed on Friday in a collision involving two L-39 combat training aircraft west of Kyiv, according to the air force. The President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, expressed his condolences and emphasized the importance of preparing crews to operate the 61 F-16 fighter jets acquired from Western allies. One of the deceased pilots, Andriy Pilshchykov, known as Juice, was highly regarded for his contributions to the state and described as a “mega talent” and a leader in implementing reforms, as mentioned by air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat on Facebook. Ihnat also shared Pilshchykov’s unfulfilled desire to pilot an F-16, which he can no longer achieve since the American planes are on the horizon.
The prosecutor general’s office of Ukraine has initiated a criminal investigation to determine whether any flight preparation rules were violated leading to the collision. President Zelenskiy stated that it is premature to delve into details and assured that all circumstances will be clarified. The air force announced the crash through its Telegram app and extended their sympathies to the victims’ families, considering it an irreplaceable and painful loss for everyone. The President highlighted that the introduction of F-16s will elevate military aviation to a new level and restore civil aviation in Ukrainian skies, promoting victory and increasing security.
Radio Svoboda shared a video capturing the wreckage of the aircraft being removed from a field in the village of Sinhury, located around 10 km (6 miles) south of Zhytomyr and approximately 150 km (90 miles) west of Kyiv. Witnesses describe hearing an explosion in the air and witnessing two planes descending in smoke and flames. A female bystander observed two planes approaching each other before the collision. Military analyst and former pilot Roman Svitan suggested that the crash was likely due to formation flying, explaining that planes often fly at a distance of 3 to 4 meters from one another. Svitan added that the L-39 aircraft serves various purposes, including as a fighter, attack aircraft, bomber, and training plane, but there is limited time for ejection during low-altitude formation flying.
President Zelenskiy conveyed his condolences to the pilots’ families and affirmed that Ukraine will forever remember those who defended their skies. The report included contributions from Max Hunder and Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv, Elaine Monaghan in Washington, and was written by Elaine Monaghan. The editing was done by David Holmes, Nick Zieminski, and Daniel Wallis.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
