📰 Curated from Associated Press
📖 Read full article→Greek air force jet crashes at annual aerial show, kills 2 pilots and starts fire - AP News
Entertainment and Culture9/5/20261 min read
A Greek air force jet has crashed at an air show north of Athens and the plane's two pilots were killed. The crash of the twin-seat Phantom F4 jet occurred during a low-altitude maneuver. The resulting fire sent large plumes of black smoke into the air in fro…
✨ Key Highlights
- A Hellenic Air Force twin-seat F-4 Phantom jet crashed on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, during a low-altitude maneuver at the Athens Flying Week airshow at Tanagra Air Force Base, roughly 60 kilometers (40 miles) north of Athens.
- Both pilots were killed, and their bodies were recovered during a rescue operation that was initially hindered by a post-crash fire producing large plumes of black smoke; no spectators among the thousands in attendance were injured.
- Eleven water-dropping planes and helicopters supported 85 firefighters in containing the blaze, which stayed at a distance from the viewing area, though it triggered an evacuation order in a nearby zone.
- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed grief for the pilots' families, calling the crash a reminder of the daily danger faced by Greece's aviators who protect the country's skies.
- Video of the incident showed smoke rising from the impact point followed by a larger secondary explosion as the aircraft broke apart, after which organizers canceled the remaining weekend events.
- Cyprus' Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas said he phoned his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias to offer condolences, while the air force declared three days of mourning.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) A Greek air force jet crashed at an air show north of Athens on Saturday, killing the two pilots, officials said, as thousands of people were in attendance at the event.
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