A Greek Air Force F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed during an aerial demonstration at the Athens Flying Week air show in Tanagra, north of Athens, on Saturday. Unfortunately, the two crew members have been found dead, causing an official three-day mourning in the Greek Armed Forces.
The twin-seat aircraft went down at approximately 3 p.m. local time, during the opening minutes of its display. The jet crashed outside the runway area, sending a large column of black smoke into the sky as thousands of spectators watched from Tanagra Air Base.
There were no immediate reports of injuries among spectators. Emergency services rushed to the crash site, while a firefighting helicopter carried out water drops to contain the resulting blaze.
Video footage shared on social media appeared to show the Phantom losing altitude while coming out of a turn before hitting the ground and bursting into flames. The air show was suspended following the crash, and organizers instructed spectators to leave the venue.
@protothema.gr 🚨 Η στιγμή της συντριβής του Phantom έχει καταγραφεί σε βίντεο που δημοσιεύθηκε πριν από λίγο στα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης από θεατές του air show. #protothema #news #greektiktok #tiktokgreece
Athens Flying Week 2026 was scheduled to take place at Tanagra Air Base on September 5 and 6, featuring military aircraft, aerobatic teams and aviation displays from Greece and several other countries. The F-4 Phantom was among the Greek Air Force aircraft included in the program.
The first six F-4 Phantom aircraft entered service with the Hellenic Air Force in April 1974. The aircraft marked 50 years of service in Greece in 2024 and has become one of the most recognizable fighter jets in the country’s military aviation history.
The cause of Saturday’s crash was not immediately known. Further information was expected from Greek defense and air force authorities.
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