On September 5 (local time), according to Xinhua news agency quoting Greek national television ERT, a F-4 Phantom fighter of the Greek Air Force crashed while participating in the Athens Flying Week air show at Tanagra airbase.
According to ERT, the plane suddenly lost altitude just minutes after the performance began. The plane then crashed and broke into two parts, causing fires at different locations.
Military sources in an exchange with ERT said that the two pilots on the plane were found unconscious, at a certain distance from the crash site.
Greek authorities have mobilized large forces to control the fires after the accident. A total of 95 firefighters, along with 9 firefighting aircraft and 5 helicopters, were deployed to the incident area.
The crash occurred within the framework of Athens Flying Week, a 2-day international aviation exhibition held at Tanagra Air Base.
The event features performance flight teams from many countries in Europe and Asia. Aerial performances are one of the main activities of the event.
The F-4 Phantom is a jet fighter developed by the United States and used by many air forces around the world. The crashed aircraft belongs to the Greek Air Force and is participating in a performance at the event.
The accident affected performance activities while rescue forces focused on controlling the fires and handling the scene.
Greek authorities have not announced the official cause of the accident. Information about the condition of the two pilots is expected to be updated after functional agencies complete rescue and site assessment.
