Fact Check: Ukrainian Pilot Did NOT Desert With F-16 Fighter Jet -- Aircraft Was Lost After Incident Onboard
Fact Check
Did Ukraine lose an F-16 fighter jet because its pilot deserted with the aircraft? No, that's not true: Ukraine lost an F-16 fighter jet during a combat mission in May 2025 after an unspecified incident happened onboard and caused the pilot to eject from the aircraft, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Air Force. The pilot was later found…