By New York Post (World News) | Created at 2026-09-05 16:25:31 | Updated at 2026-09-05 17:43:23
1 hour ago
A Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom plunged into the ground during an Athens Flying Week airshow Saturday — erupting into a massive fireball as horrified spectators watched, chilling video shows.
Both pilots aboard the two-seat fighter were killed in the crash, according to two officials who spoke to Reuters.
The shocking crash unfolded about two minutes into the jet’s display at Tanagra Air Base near Athens at around 3 p.m. local time, according to The Aviationist.
Footage shows the F-4 roaring along at low altitude before banking into a turn and rapidly losing height.
Seconds later, the fighter disappears behind trees and slams into the ground — sending a towering plume of flames and black smoke into the sky.
The footage does not appear to show either of the two aircrew members ejecting from the doomed aircraft.
The jet was flying just meters above the ground when it lost altitude while making a right turn and crashed about two kilometers from the airfield, Reuters reported.
Just one day earlier, the crew had successfully completed a rehearsal flight in the two-seat fighter.
The F-4 Phantom is one of the most iconic fighter jets of the jet age. First flown in 1958 and introduced by the US Navy in the 1960s, the twin-engine fighter became a workhorse of the Vietnam War and was later used by air forces around the world, including Greece, which first received the aircraft in the 1970s.
The F-4 was one of the highlighted Greek aircraft appearing in this year’s Athens Flying Week, with organizers touting the Phantoms as making one of their final appearances as the legendary fighter approaches retirement.
The impact sparked a blaze that brought a massive emergency response, with, 85 firefighters,11 water-dropping planes and helicopters and 23 vehicles battling the flames, reported AP News.
The flying display was suspended following the crash and spectators were ordered to leave the air base.
