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Polish F-16 makes emergency landing at Warsaw

July 29, 2008 (by Stefaan Vanhastel) - An F-16D block 52 from the Polish Air Force (PolAF) made a successful emergency landing at Okecie airport in Warsaw at 10.00h local time on Monday, after the crew noticed smoke in the cockpit.

The aircraft landed safely, and the both pilots are ok.

The two-seat F-16D was on a training flight from Krzesiny AB, near Poznan in western Poland, when the instructor pilot suddenly smelled smoke in the cockpit, and the pilots decided to make an emergency landing. The cause of the smoke is still unclear.

This is the third emergency landing by a Polish F-16 at Warsaw. In March of 2008, an F-16 experienced engine problems, while in September of 2007, an F-16 pilot also experienced smoke in the cockpit.

The Polish Air Force operates a total of 48 block 52 F-16s.