37-year-old pilot Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, who died during training ahead of the AirSHOW in Radom, left behind his wife and two young sons. Just a few weeks ago, his wife shared how they said goodbye before his flight. In the face of the tragedy, that photo has become symbolic.
The F-16 pilot from the Polish Air Force demonstration team – Tiger Demo Team – and the doctor were connected through the military. Magdalena Boryc-Krakowian graduated from the Faculty of Military Medicine and the General Tadeusz Kościuszko Military University of Land Forces (AWL). On a daily basis, she works as a radiologist in a hospital in Poznań.
Four years ago, the couple became parents to twins. The boys were born in 2021.
“One kiss”
On social media, they occasionally revealed glimpses of their private life. In one of her last posts from a few months ago, “Slab’s” wife showed how they said goodbye before his flights.
“Kiss me before flight,” wrote Boryc-Krakowian.
“Every time, one kiss – that’s how much it means. I love, admire, support, thank you,” she wrote before the June air shows in Leszno.