Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Sep 5
Greek Air Force F-4 Crash Kills 2 Pilots, Sparks Fire at Athens Air Show
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Sep 5

Greek Air Force F-4 Crash Kills 2 Pilots, Sparks Fire at Athens Air Show

3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Sep 5

Summary

  • Two Greek air force pilots were killed when a twin-seat F-4 Phantom crashed during a low-altitude maneuver at Athens Flying Week in Tanagra on Saturday.
  • The jet went down inside Tanagra air base about 60 kilometers north of Athens, igniting a fire that sent black smoke over the showgrounds but did not injure spectators.
  • Eighty-five firefighters, backed by 11 water-dropping planes and helicopters, worked to contain the blaze as rescue access to the wreckage was initially hindered.
  • Organizers suspended and then canceled the remaining air show events after evacuating the area, while Cyprus' defense minister sent condolences to Greece's Nikos Dendias.

Insights

With the pilots' fate unknown, will this tragic fiery crash force Greece to permanently ground its remaining vintage fighter fleet?
What hidden mechanical failures caused a heavily upgraded, decades-old Greek fighter jet to plummet during a routine airshow maneuver?