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Crash at Tanagra Air Base
Two pilots died after a Greek Air Force F-4 Phantom crashed during the Athens Flying Week air show at Tanagra air force base north of Athens on Saturday, with a fire and large plumes of black smoke following the impact.
“killing the two pilots, officials said”
Greek public broadcaster ERT said the pilots could not deploy the ejection seat in time, and an explosion occurred in front of the thousands of people watching the display.
AP reported the crash occurred during a low-altitude maneuver, and that there were no injuries among the spectators as the bodies of the two pilots were located during a rescue operation hampered by the fire on the grounds of Tanagra air force base.
The crash prompted organizers to cancel remaining events planned over the weekend, and a fire prompted an evacuation order in an area near the base, according to AP.
Condolences and official response
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, "The sense of grief is widespread, and our thoughts are with the families of the two pilots we lost," describing the crash as "a reminder of the daily danger faced by Greece’s aviators."
Cyprus’ Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said he had called his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, to express condolences, writing, "It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of the two officers of the Hellenic Air Force."
ABC reported that Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, who was due to travel to Thessaloniki to attend an expo, canceled that trip to visit the site of the accident.
Euronews said the Defence Minister N. Dendias was cutting short his schedule at the Thessaloniki International Fair and returning to Athens, while organizers canceled remaining events planned over the weekend.
Fire, evacuation, and mourning
The crash sparked a fire at Tanagra that spread to the surrounding forested area, and Euronews reported that some 115 firefighters and 36 vehicles were operating at the scene with three ground teams.
“Some 115 firefighters and 36 vehicles are operating at the scene”
Euronews also said nine aircraft and four helicopters were being deployed periodically, and that an alert was sent via the 112 emergency number to inform people in the wider area of the fire.
AP said the air force declared three days of mourning following the crash, and organizers canceled remaining events planned over the weekend while the fire prompted an evacuation order in an area near the base.
ABC reported that nine aircraft and four helicopters from the fire service were sent to the crash site to put out the fire, and that ERT suspended the event immediately after the crash.