Greek air force jet crashes at annual aerial show, kills 2 pilots and starts fire
An investigation is underway after the jet lost altitude during a low-altitude maneuver, and Greek officials said 85 firefighters battled the blaze.
- On Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, a Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom crashed during an aerobatic display at the Athens Flying Week air show at Tanagra Air Base, killing both crew members.
- The jet lost altitude during a low-altitude maneuver, impacting the ground and erupting into a fireball; a large fire subsequently spread into nearby woodland, requiring extensive emergency response.
- Greek authorities mobilized 85 firefighters and 11 aircraft to contain the blaze, while event organizers suspended all remaining activities and ordered spectators to evacuate the air base.
- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated the crash serves as "a reminder of the daily danger" facing aviators, while Cyprus' Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas expressed condolences to the families.
- Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the accident, which involves the aging F-4 Phantom, a Cold War-era jet nearing the end of its decades-long service life in Greece.
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Two Greek Air Force pilots were killed when they crashed during an aerial display north of Athens.
This article was originally published on Cedarnews.net. For more news and exclusive reports, visit our website. Liputan6.com, Athens - A Greek F-4 Phantom jet crashed into the Greek island of Athens during a bombing run. This news was published on the Cedarnews website. For more breaking news and exclusive reports, visit our official website.
An F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed during an air show in Greece, killing both pilots. 11 planes and helicopters, along with 85 firefighters, were deployed to control the fire that broke out after the accident. Organizers canceled the rest of the weekend's events.
In Greece, a double-seat F-4 Phantom crashed during the Atens Flying Week air show, killing two pilots and firing into the nearby forest after the fighter crash.
The accident occurred while the aircraft was performing a low-altitude maneuver.
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