The F-4E went down during a low-altitude display near Tanagra Air Base, sparking fires and forcing organizers to cancel the weekend program.
TANAGRA, GREECE — A Hellenic Air Force F-4E Phantom II crashed Saturday during an aerial display at Athens Flying Week north of Athens, killing both crew members as thousands of spectators watched from Tanagra Air Base.
The Sept. 5 crash brought the annual international air show to an abrupt end and prompted a large emergency response as fires spread near the impact area. Greek military officials said the cause remained under investigation. The Defense Ministry declared three days of mourning in the armed forces following the deaths of the two airmen.
The Hellenic Air Force said the F-4E Phantom II belonged to the 338 Squadron of the 117 Combat Wing and was participating in Athens Flying Week when it went down at 2:55 p.m. The military said the aircraft crashed about three nautical miles southeast of the 114 Combat Wing at Tanagra. The two crew members were fatally injured.
Video from the event showed the twin-seat fighter flying low and making a right turn before it rapidly lost altitude and struck the ground. Reuters reported that one witness told Greek public broadcaster ERT that spectators were stunned and that the aircraft had been airborne for less than three minutes. The cause of the loss of altitude has not been established.
The impact produced large columns of dark smoke visible from the air base. Rescue crews initially had difficulty reaching the wreckage because of fire in the area. The Associated Press reported that 11 water-dropping aircraft and helicopters joined 85 firefighters working to contain the blaze, which remained away from the main spectator viewing area.
Reports differed on whether anyone outside the aircraft was hurt. The Associated Press and Reuters reported no injuries among spectators, bystanders or nearby residents. ERT later reported that two civilians at a plastics factory were slightly injured by aircraft debris and were taken to a hospital in Chalkida for treatment. No injuries were reported among spectators at the air show itself.
ERT reported that the fire spread through woodland and an industrial area after parts of the aircraft came down at separate locations. Emergency authorities issued an alert for the surrounding area as firefighters worked to contain the flames. Organizers also directed visitors to leave the air base after the crash.
Athens Flying Week organizers canceled the rest of the flying program following the accident. The event had been scheduled for Sept. 5 and 6 at Tanagra Air Base and was promoted as an international show featuring Greek and foreign military and civilian aircraft. Thousands of aviation spectators typically attend the annual event.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed condolences to the pilots’ families and described the crash as a reminder of the risks faced by Greek military aviators. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias also expressed grief over the deaths. His ministry ordered three days of mourning from Saturday through Monday, Sept. 7.
The Hellenic Air Force said a military aviation accident investigation committee is examining the cause of the crash. Officials had not announced a cause as of Sunday, and no confirmed finding had been released about whether a mechanical problem, flight conditions or another factor contributed to the accident.
Author note: Last updated September 6, 2026.