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A Greek Air Force F-4 Phantom crashed during an airshow at a military base in Tanagra, outside Athens, on Saturday afternoon, killing its two pilots as thousands of visitors watched the annual "Athens Flying Week" event.
The aircraft had just taken off when it suddenly lost altitude and struck the ground, and an explosion occurred immediately after the crash, according to local media.
The aircraft broke into two sections, with fires reported at two separate locations at the crash site. Several firefighting aircraft were dispatched to extinguish the blaze caused by the crash, while a firefighting helicopter dropped water on the flames.
The pilots did not eject from the aircraft, and the circumstances surrounding the crash remained unclear. While authorities had not immediately provided further details about its cause, the airshow was canceled following the accident.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias also called off a planned trip to Thessaloniki’s International Fair to visit the scene.
The F-4 Phantom was among the Greek Air Force aircraft scheduled to take part in the 2026 Athens Flying Week, alongside F-16 Vipers, Rafales, Mirage 2000-5s and M-346s.
The Phantom was also set to make one of its final public appearances before being retired from Greek service. The event was scheduled for Sept. 5 and 6 at Tanagra Air Base and featured military and civilian aircraft from Greece and other countries.
The Greek Air Force was due to participate with several aircraft, including the F-16 ZEUS and T-6 Daedalus demonstration teams. International participants included the UAE’s Fursan Al Emarat aerobatic team, Finland’s F-18 Hornet, Spanish and German Eurofighter Typhoons, and Austrian Pilatus PC-7 aircraft.
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