The visit of Polish President Karol Nawrocki to Washington carried not only political weight but also a deeply symbolic dimension. During his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, military aircraft appeared in the skies above the White House in formations honoring Lt. Col. Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, an F-16 pilot who lost his life on August 28 during a training flight ahead of the Radom Air Show.

The ceremony began with a flypast of four F-16s in the “missing man” formation. In one of aviation’s most poignant rituals, a single aircraft abruptly pulls up, leaving a gap in the formation to symbolize the absence of a comrade who did not return from his mission. “Thank you for this gesture,” President Nawrocki said, turning to President Trump (Reuters, 2025).

The tribute was followed by a formation of four F-35s, underlining the significance of the Polish-American defense partnership. The arrangement, agreed upon by the White House and the Polish delegation, combined a solemn homage to the fallen pilot with a demonstration of the ally’s most advanced aircraft.

The death of Lt. Col. Krakowian shocked public opinion in Poland. The 35-year-old pilot, leader of the F-16 Tiger Demo Team, was one of the most recognizable faces of the Polish Air Force. He died during an evening training flight in Radom while preparing for the international Air Show’s centerpiece performance. Following the tragedy, the event was cancelled and an investigation into the accident was launched.

The White House meeting also carried a strong political message. President Trump reaffirmed that the United States would maintain a robust military presence in Poland and stood ready to increase it further. President Nawrocki described this as an unequivocal guarantee of security in the face of Russia’s aggressive policies. Associated Press noted that, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, these assurances gained particular significance.

Photo: Mikołaj Bujak / Chancellery of the President of Poland

This article was prepared as part of the public task commissioned under the Government Programme for the Development of Civic Organizations 2018–2030: “Safe Poland of Tomorrow – strengthening the mission-driven activities of the Alioth Foundation.”