A tragic accident occurred on Saturday at an air show near Athens when a Greek Air Force jet crashed during a demonstration, claiming the lives of both pilots on board. The incident took place at the Tanagra Air Force Base, where thousands of spectators had gathered to enjoy the event.
The aircraft, a twin-seat Phantom F4 jet, crashed only a few meters above the ground while performing a low-altitude maneuver. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the civilian crowd.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating, “The sense of grief is widespread, and our thoughts are with the families of the two pilots we lost. This event serves as a reminder of the daily dangers faced by Greece’s aviators as they stand ready to protect our skies.”
The jet caught fire upon impact, resulting in a large plume of black smoke. Emergency services quickly responded with 11 water-dropping planes and helicopters, alongside 85 firefighters, working to extinguish the blaze. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft had been airborne for only a few minutes before the crash occurred.
Due to this tragic event, organizers decided to cancel the remainder of the annual Athens Flying Week airshow and evacuated the area. The bodies of the pilots were later recovered from the crash site.
Cyprus’ Defense Minister, Vasilis Palmas, also extended condolences, emphasizing the loss of the two officers from the Hellenic Air Force and indicating that the air force would observe three days of mourning in honor of the deceased.
This is not the first time an airshow has faced tragedy; earlier this year, two jets collided at a show in Idaho, although the pilots were able to eject safely.
