Two Hellenic Air Force pilots were killed on Saturday when their F-4E Phantom II crashed during a flying display at the Athens Flying Week air show at Tanagra Air Base, north of Athens.
The two-seat jet, assigned to the 338 Squadron of the 117th Combat Wing, went down at around 2:55 p.m. local time, roughly three nautical miles southeast of the base, according to Greek media reports. Video from the scene showed the aircraft losing altitude during a low-level right turn a few meters above the ground before it struck the ground and burst into flames. There were no reports of the crew ejecting.
Officials said the crash happened about two kilometers from the airfield and that no spectators or nearby residents were hurt. Fire from the wreckage spread to surrounding fields, an industrial site and woodland, and was contained by firefighters working with aircraft and helicopters. The air show was halted and the area was cleared.
The Hellenic Air Force identified the crew by their initials as Squadron Leader I.M. and Captain D.P. Preliminary accounts suggested the two men may have stayed with the aircraft in order to steer it away from the crowd. Greece declared three days of mourning for its armed forces, and an investigation into the cause has been opened.
