Greek air show crash kills two pilots as Phantom F4 goes down near Athens

Athens,UPDATED: Sep 5, 2026 21:44 IST

Two Greek air force pilots were killed after their jet crashed during an air show north of Athens on Saturday, officials said. The accident happened in front of thousands of spectators attending Athens Flying Week.

The twin-seat Phantom F4 aircraft went down during a low-altitude manoeuvre, triggering a fire and sending large plumes of black smoke into the air. No spectators were injured, and the remaining events planned over the weekend were cancelled.

Greek air force officials said the bodies of the two pilots were found during a rescue operation at Tanagra air force base, around 60 km north of Athens. The operation was hampered in its early stages by the fire that broke out on the base grounds after the crash.

Eleven water-dropping planes and helicopters joined 85 firefighters in efforts to contain the blaze. Officials said the fire remained at some distance from the viewing area, but it still led to an evacuation order in an area near the base.

Video footage of the crash showed smoke rising from the impact site, followed by a second, larger explosion nearby as the aircraft broke apart.

Cyprus Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said he had spoken to his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, to convey his government's condolences. "It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of the two officers of the Hellenic Air Force, who lost their lives in the tragic accident that occurred during the air show at Tanagra Air Base," Palmas wrote in an online post.

The crash of the Phantom F4 turned the annual air show into a scene of emergency response, leaving two pilots dead, forcing nearby evacuations, and bringing the weekend event to an abrupt end.

With PTI Inputs

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