A Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom crashed shortly after take-off during Athens Flying week on Saturday Sep. 5, killing both pilots and prompting the immediate cancellation of the airshow. The jet went down seconds into a low‑altitude departure from Tanagra Air Base, forcing authorities to stop the event and deploy emergency crews to the crash site.
The Crash
The twin-seat aircraft went down only moments after departure from Tanagra Air Base, around 60 kilometres north of Athens. The jet was attempting a low-altitude right turn a few metres above the ground before it became engulfed in flames. Footage taken at the event showed a second explosion as the aircraft broke apart, with the impact site located two kilometres outside the airport perimeter.
Local media reported that pilots did not eject, although air force officials stated early on that it was not immediately clear whether an ejection attempt had been made. No injuries were reported among spectators or nearby residents.
The crash triggered a forest fire near the base, resulting in eleven water-dropping aircraft and helicopters, along with 85 firefighters, being deployed to contain the blaze. Authorities issued an evacuation order for the surrounding area.
The Aftermath
The Hellenic Air Force declared three days of official mourning for the two pilots and cancelled all remaining Athens Flying Week events following the crash. Spectators were instructed to leave Tanagra Air Base as emergency crews continued operations in the area.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek Prime Minister, commented on the incident:
“The sense of grief is widespread, and our thoughts are with the families of the two pilots we lost. It is a reminder of the daily danger faced by Greece’s aviators, who remain on constant standby to protect Greece’s skies.”
The incident comes less than two months after another serious accident involving a Greek F-16, which suffered an on-board fire and crash-landed at Zakynthos Airport (ZTH). The event temporarily closed the island’s summer terminal.
How do incidents like these shape your view of airshow safety? Let us know in the comments.
