ATHENS, Greece: A Greek fighter jet crashed during an airshow at Tanagra Air Base, around 55 kilometres north of Athens, killing both pilots, according to the TO Proto Thema newspaper on Saturday (Sept. 5), reported German Press Agency (dpa).
The two pilots of the ‘F-4 Phantom’ were recovered dead, the report said.
The cause of the accident is not yet known. The event was immediately called off.
“We heard a tremendous bang and immediately afterwards saw thick black smoke,” a resident told the newspaper Kathimerini.
Numerous videos posted by spectators on YouTube show the crash.
The Athens Flying Week has been held every September at Tanagra Air Base for 12 years.
Dozens of military and civilian aircraft and aerobatic performers from countries including France, Austria, Spain and Italy took part in this year’s international air show.
The German Air Force was also represented, with aircraft including a Eurofighter Typhoon and a Tornado.
The organisers said there had never been an accident in the event’s history. – BERNAMA-dpa
