Greek Air Force F-4 Phantom Crash at Tanagra Airshow Kills Both Pilots
Two Greek pilots died when their F-4 fighter jet crashed and burned during an airshow near Athens, also sparking a forest fire.
A Greek Air Force F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed and burst into flames during an air display at the Tanagra air base, north of Athens, on Saturday, killing both pilots on board. The incident occurred in full view of thousands of spectators gathered for the annual Athens Flying Week event.
Officials confirmed the deaths of the two crew members of the two-seater aircraft. The jet went down roughly two kilometres from the airfield while executing a low-altitude manoeuvre, moments after taking off. Footage from the scene showed the aircraft turning just above the ground before it struck the earth and erupted into a fireball, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the sky. A second, larger explosion was reported shortly after as the wreckage broke apart.
An eyewitness at the event described the shock among the crowd, noting that the aircraft had been airborne for only about three minutes before the crash. Emergency services dispatched 11 firefighting planes and helicopters along with 85 firefighters to contain the blaze, which spread into a nearby forest area.
Rescue teams later located the bodies of both pilots, though initial recovery efforts were hampered by the intense fire at the base, situated approximately 60 kilometres north of Athens. No injuries have been reported among spectators or residents in the surrounding area.
Organisers cancelled the remainder of the weekend's airshow, and an evacuation of the area was announced over loudspeakers. Cyprus's Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas expressed condolences to his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, mourning the loss of the two Hellenic Air Force officers in the tragic accident.