The F-16 plane was shot down by a Russian missile - BBC.

Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old pilot who was flying the F-16 fighter jet, died on Saturday. There is suspicion that his plane was shot down by a Russian missile. This information was reported by the BBC citing its sources in the Ukrainian government, and it was also reported by 'Glavkom'.

According to BBC information, Russian troops fired three missiles at the aircraft. It is still unknown which missile system was used - the S-400 or the 'air-to-air' missile R-37. Investigations into the incident are currently ongoing.

However, according to sources, Ivanov could not have fallen victim to 'friendly fire', as Ukrainian air defense systems were not operating in the area where he was performing his task.

In this regard, the president posthumously awarded the fallen pilot the title of Hero of Ukraine.

It should be noted that the investigation into the air crash that occurred on August 26, 2024, when the F-16 fighter jet crashed and pilot Oleksiy 'Moonfish' Mesya died, is ongoing.