Dutch F-35 missile accidentally hits Polish couple's home during NATO air defence
A Dutch-operated F-35 fired a missile on 10 September that struck the house of Tomasz and Alicja Wesolowski in Wyryki, Poland, leaving the couple unharmed but their home destroyed.
On 10 September, a NATO operation to repel Russian drones over eastern Poland involved two F-35s and two F-16s, one of which was a Dutch-owned F-35 that fired a sub-sonic air-to-air missile. The missile struck the home of 67-year-old Tomasz and 65-year-old Alicja Wesolowski in the village of Wyryki, destroying the building but causing no injuries. Polish prosecutors concluded the strike was accidental and not a criminal act, describing it as an "inevitable side effect" of the defensive response.
The Dutch defence ministry has declined to comment, referring the matter to Polish authorities. The couple now stays in a flat provided by the municipality while a new house, selected from an online catalogue, is under construction. Local officials note the incident marks the first case of civilian damage from friendly fire in Poland’s air-defence history.
Why it matters
It highlights the risks of accidental civilian damage during NATO air-defence missions and the diplomatic sensitivities that follow.
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