Two Hellenic Air Force pilots were killed on Saturday after an F-4E Phantom II crashed during the Athens Flying Week airshow at Tanagra Air Base, north of Athens.
The accident happened at approximately 14:55 local time on September 5, shortly after the aircraft began its flying display. The twin-seat Phantom was performing a low-altitude manoeuvre when it lost altitude and crashed approximately three nautical miles (5.6 km) southeast of the 114th Combat Wing.
The aircraft was operated by the 338 Squadron of the 117th Combat Wing. Both crew members were killed in the crash. The Hellenic Air Force subsequently identified them as Major Ioannis Blesias, 40, and Captain Dimitrios Petrou, 37.
Videos recorded by spectators show the Phantom making a low-level turn before descending rapidly and impacting the ground, producing a large fireball and a column of black smoke. There is no indication in the available footage that either crew member successfully ejected before the impact.
Thousands of spectators were attending the Athens Flying Week event at Tanagra when the accident occurred. Despite the proximity of the crash to the airshow site, no spectators or local residents were reported injured.
The crash also triggered fires in the surrounding area. Firefighters and aerial firefighting assets were deployed to contain the blaze, while emergency operations were complicated by the difficult terrain and the continuing fire.
Following the accident, organisers cancelled the remainder of the flying display programme. The official Athens Flying Week website confirmed that all remaining flying activities had been cancelled following the Phantom accident.
? FULL VIDEO: The moment a Hellenic Air Force F-4E Phantom II crashed during a solo display at Athens Flying Week in Tanagra, Greece.
The footage captures the aircraft’s final maneuver before impact.
No parachutes were visible in the immediate aftermath. The condition of the… pic.twitter.com/kUKXUIzgzR
— XPRESS (@Xpress_24_7) September 5, 2026
This post was published on 6 September 2026 13:30
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