Greek F-4 Phantom Crashes At Tanagra Air Base During Athens Airshow
Two pilots killed as Greek F-4 crashes during airshow.
A Greek F-4 Phantom military aircraft crashed at an air base outside Athens on Saturday during an airshow, killing both pilots aboard the fighter jet, Greece's ANA news agency reported. The crash occurred in front of thousands of spectators attending the annual “Athens Flying Week” event.
The aircraft had reportedly taken off shortly before the accident when it suddenly lost altitude and crashed, according to a journalist from Greece's public broadcaster ERT who was at the scene. Local media reported that the two pilots did not eject from the aircraft before it went down. The circumstances leading to the sudden loss of altitude remained unclear.
An explosion occurred immediately after the aircraft crashed, with the impact triggering a fire at the military base. Several firefighting aircraft were deployed to the area to tackle the blaze, ERT reported. The accident unfolded as spectators were gathered to watch the airshow, turning the event into a major emergency response operation.
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Authorities subsequently cancelled the airshow following the crash. The incident also prompted a senior government response, with Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias cancelling a planned visit to the Thessaloniki International Fair and travelling to the crash site instead.
The F-4 Phantom is a long-serving military aircraft that has been operated by Greece for decades as part of its air force fleet. The circumstances surrounding Saturday's accident, including why the aircraft lost altitude shortly after takeoff and why the pilots did not eject, were not immediately established.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight data and other evidence to determine what caused the crash. The deaths of the two pilots overshadowed the annual Athens Flying Week, which had drawn large crowds to the air base for the scheduled military aviation displays.
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