First loss: What we know about F-16 crash and pilot Oleksii Moonfish Mes

What is known about the loss of the F-16

According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, during the defense against a massive Russian attack on August 26, communication was lost with one of the F-16 fighter jets. This occurred after the jet began its approach toward the next enemy target.

It was later confirmed that the F-16 had crashed, and the pilot was killed. A special commission from the Ministry of Defense has been established to determine the cause of the accident and is currently working in the area where the plane went down.

Meanwhile, American media have suggested that the possible causes of the crash could be a technical malfunction or pilot error, but this is still under investigation. Additionally, Voice of America, citing sources within the Ukrainian Air Force, noted that "friendly fire" cannot be ruled out.

"Various theories are being considered, including 'friendly fire' from our own air defense, technical malfunction, and pilot error. However, the exact cause will only be known after the investigation is completed," a representative of the Air Force told the media.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine has received a total of six F-16 fighter jets from its Western partners.

What is know about the fallen F-16 pilot

According to RBC-Ukraine's sources in the Defense Forces, the pilot who died in the crash was Oleksii Mes, known by the call sign Moonfish. The Air Command West announced his death during the defense against the Russian missile and drone attack but did not specify which aircraft he was piloting.

The command revealed that during his last combat sortie, Moonfish shot down three cruise missiles and one strike drone. Overall, the F-16s involved in repelling the Russian attack on Monday managed to shoot down four enemy missiles.

Oleksii Mes, known by the call sign Moonfish, was from Lutsk and was born on October 20, 1993. He served in the military under contract.

In September 2023, it was reported that Moonfish was undergoing F-16 training in the UK. The 144th Fighter Wing of the US Air National Guard reported on his training, and Moonfish even appeared on a telethon to discuss the training of Ukrainian pilots on Western fighters.

He compared the F-16 to older aircraft by saying, "I would compare our current aircraft to the F-16 as switching from a basic phone to the iPhone 16."

Prior to this, Moonfish, along with another well-known Ukrainian pilot, Andrii Pilshchykov, known by the call sign Juice, lobbied for the transfer of Western F-16 fighters to Ukraine. Juice and Moonfish traveled to the US and met with American officials to persuade them to approve the transfer of F-16s to the Ukrainian army.

Photo: Ukrainian pilots Juice and Moonfish in the US

Juice died on August 25, 2023, in an aircraft accident while flying over the Zhytomyr region. Moonfish sacrificed his life for Ukraine exactly one year and one day later.

Before transitioning to the F-16, Mes was the commander of a squadron of Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters. On August 29, a farewell ceremony was held for the fallen pilot. By order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Sources: materials from WSJ, Voice of America, Reuters, CNN, statements from the General Staff and Air Command West, as well as data from RBC-Ukraine sources in the Defense Forces.

The arrival of the first F-16s in Ukraine was announced in early August, coinciding with the day of the Ukrainian Air Force. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gathered the media and showcased the first fighters.

For more on how Ukraine might use the F-16s in the war with Russia, read the material by RBC-Ukraine.