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Crash at Tanagra
A Greek Air Force F-4 Phantom crashed during an air show at Tanagra air base north of Athens on Saturday, killing the two pilots and triggering a fireball and large plumes of black smoke.
“"Unfortunately the two pilots are dead,"”
Reuters reported that one official said, "Unfortunately the two pilots are dead," and added that the Phantom crashed about two kilometres outside the airport with no reports of injuries to bystanders or residents.
AP said the crash occurred during a low-altitude maneuver at the Athens Flying Week event, and that there were no injuries among the spectators as thousands attended.
AP also reported that a fire after the crash sent up large plumes of black smoke, while air force officials said the bodies of the two pilots were located during a rescue operation hampered by the fire on the grounds of Tanagra air force base.
Reuters said footage from public broadcaster ERT showed the F-4 performing a right turn a few meters above the ground seconds before it crashed and erupted into a fireball.
Officials, eyewitnesses, 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," as Greece’s air show was disrupted by the crash.
Reuters quoted an eyewitness telling ERT, "We were all stunned. It hadn't been airborne for more than three minutes," after the aircraft erupted into a fireball.
AP reported that Cyprus’ Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas called 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".
Euronews said 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.
Reuters added that loudspeakers at the air base urged people to leave the area as eleven firefighting aircraft and helicopters operated to contain the fire that spread to the nearby forest.
Fire spread and next steps
The crash sparked a wildfire that spread into the surrounding forested area near Tanagra, and Euronews said some 115 firefighters and 36 vehicles were operating at the scene with nine aircraft and four helicopters being deployed periodically.
“Some 115 firefighters and 36 vehicles are operating at the scene”
Euronews reported that the 112 emergency alert system was activated because of the fire, and that police closed the service road of the Athens–Lamia national motorway and the Oinoi provincial road at Oinoi.
Reuters said the F-4 was participating in the Athens Flying Week, an annual event that attracts military and civilian aviation teams from dozens of countries, and that the air show was suspended after the crash.
The Aviationist said the aircraft had performed a rehearsal flight during the Media Day on Sept. 4, and that videos shared online did not show the two aircrew members ejecting from the aircraft.
AP reported that organizers canceled remaining events planned over the weekend, while the fire prompted an evacuation order in an area near the base and Greece’s air force declared three days of mourning following the crash.