Ukrainian law enforcement officers continue to investigate the crash of the F-16 fighter jet, in which the Ukrainian pilot Oleksiy Mes tragically died. As reported in the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), 11 forensic examinations have been appointed to find out the causes and circumstances of the accident.
Specialists examine information from the flight recorder, as well as conduct forensic and commodity examinations. The SBI emphasized that until all the examinations are completed, it is impossible to talk about the specific causes of the accident or about the possible responsibility of the officials or the pilot.
In September, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the results of the investigation would be known soon. However, examinations and data collection are still ongoing, and the final conclusions have not yet been announced.
Versions of the incident
Breaking Defense journalists, citing sources in Ukraine, noted that among the possible scenarios of the crash, the version under which the plane fell into a cloud of debris after intercepting a Russian missile is being discussed. It is believed that this debris may have damaged the engine and critical systems of the F-16, causing the aircraft to disintegrate. Presumably, the pilot did not have time to eject, which led to fatal consequences.
On August 29, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the loss of an F-16 fighter, which had previously participated in the interception of cruise missiles. The Air Force reported that Oleksii Mes heroically performed the task, destroying three missiles and one attack drone.
The special commission of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine with the participation of American partners is investigating the circumstances of the disaster. A day after the tragedy, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, dismissed Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk from the post of commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This decision, according to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, was not related to the F-16 plane crash.
