Greek F-4 Phantom Crashes at Air Show, Killing Two Pilots

A Greek Air Force F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed during an air show at Tanagra Air Base, north of Athens, on Saturday, killing both pilots aboard and sending thick black smoke into the sky as thousands of spectators watched.

The accident occurred during the annual Athens Flying Week shortly after the two-seat fighter took off for its aerial demonstration. Video footage showed the aircraft making a low-altitude turn before suddenly losing altitude and crashing, triggering a large fire.

Greek authorities said the two pilots were killed. Emergency crews rushed to the crash site, where the impact sparked a fire that spread into nearby vegetation.

At least 85 firefighters, along with firefighting aircraft and helicopters, were deployed to battle the blaze. The crash site was about two kilometres from the airfield, according to Reuters, and there were no immediate reports of injuries among spectators or people living nearby.

The fatal crash brought the Athens Flying Week programme to an immediate halt.

Spectators were instructed to leave the area as emergency services worked to contain the fire and secure the crash site. The remaining demonstrations scheduled for the event were cancelled.

The incident unfolded in front of a large crowd attending the annual aviation event, which features military and civilian aircraft from Greece and other countries.

Authorities have not yet established what caused the F-4 Phantom to go down.

Witness accounts and video footage indicate that the aircraft had been airborne for only a short time before losing altitude during a low-level manoeuvre. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight data and circumstances surrounding the demonstration as part of the crash investigation.

The pilots reportedly did not manage to eject before the aircraft struck the ground.

The F-4 Phantom has been a longstanding aircraft in the Hellenic Air Force, but Greece has been gradually replacing its ageing fleet with newer fighter aircraft, including F-16s, Rafales and upgraded Mirage 2000s.

The Phantom had been scheduled to appear at this year’s Athens Flying Week alongside a range of modern Greek and international military aircraft. Reports said the aircraft was expected to make one of its final public appearances before its retirement from Greek service.

The F-4 Phantom, originally developed in the United States, became one of the most recognisable fighter aircraft of the Cold War era. Greece has operated the type for decades.

The tragedy comes after another fatal Greek F-4 Phantom accident in January 2023, when a two-seat Greek Air Force Phantom crashed into the Ionian Sea during a training flight. Both pilots were killed.

The latest accident is likely to renew scrutiny of the operation of ageing military aircraft, particularly during demanding low-altitude demonstration flights.

For now, Greek authorities are focused on recovering the wreckage, investigating the cause of the crash and supporting the families and colleagues of the two pilots.

The Athens Flying Week event, which was intended to showcase military aviation to thousands of visitors, instead ended in tragedy.