A Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom II fighter jet crashed during a low-altitude maneuver at an air show north of Athens on Saturday, killing both pilots aboard, Greek officials said. Thousands of spectators were at the Athens Flying Week show at Tanagra Air Force Base when the twin-seat jet went down.
According to Greek state broadcaster ERT, the aircraft suddenly lost altitude and plunged to the ground, sparking a fire that sent large plumes of black smoke over the base. No spectators were reported injured. Organizers canceled the remaining events scheduled for the rest of the weekend following the crash.
An Aging Fleet
The F-4 Phantom II is a Vietnam-era design that first entered service with the Hellenic Air Force in the 1970s under an arms program known as Peace Icarus. Greece has kept a small number of the twin-seat jets flying for decades longer than most air forces that operated the type, relying on them alongside newer aircraft even as parts and airframes age.
Greek defense officials have not yet released the identities of the two pilots or detailed what caused the aircraft to lose altitude mid-maneuver. An investigation into the crash was opened Saturday, and the Hellenic Air Force said further details would be released as they’re confirmed.
Air Show Safety Scrutiny
Low-altitude aerobatic passes are a routine part of military air show programming worldwide, but they leave pilots with little margin if something goes wrong with the aircraft or its controls. The crash is likely to renew scrutiny of how militaries balance the public spectacle of live flying demonstrations against the narrow safety margins those maneuvers require, a debate that resurfaces after nearly every air show accident involving high-performance jets.
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