Greek F-4E fighter crashed during a performance, two pilots died

A Greek F-4E fighter crashed during a demonstration flight near the capital Athens, killing two pilots.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of September 5 when an F-4E Phantom II fighter belonging to Squadron 338 was flying to perform at the Athens Flying Week 2026 air show. "The cause of the accident is being investigated," the Greek Air Force said.

Video recorded by the audience showed the F-4E tilting its wings and gliding at a low altitude, then plunging to the ground and exploding violently, forming a large sphere far away from the exhibition. The two pilots on the plane apparently did not have time to release their emergency seats during the incident.

Local media said the plane crashed just 2 minutes after the start of the performance.

The accident also sparked a fire near the Tanagra military airport, which quickly spread to the neighboring forest. About 115 firefighters, 36 specialized vehicles, 9 aircraft and 4 helicopters were deployed to the scene to extinguish the fire.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias cut short his schedule to attend the Thessaloniki international fair to return to Athens after the accident. Athens Flying Week organizers also announced the cancellation of all remaining activities within the event.

Taking place on September 5-6, Athens Flying Week is one of the largest aviation exhibitions in southeastern Europe. The program brings together many formation flying performances, complex acrobatic techniques and parachuting.

F-4 Phantom II (Ghost) is a supersonic fighter developed by McDonnell Douglas Corporation for the US Navy and put into service in 1961, before becoming the main fighter of the US Air Force and Marine Corps in the mid-1960s. The aircraft has a two-person crew, including a pilot and a weapons control officer.

McDonnell Douglas's F-4 production line operated from 1958 to 1981 with a total of 5,195 aircraft shipped. The Greek Air Force commissioned its first F-4 in 1974 and owns a total of 35 F-4E aircraft.

In 2023, an F-4E of the 338th Squadron also crashed into the sea during low-flying training at an altitude of less than 120 m above sea level, killing both pilots. As of early 2025, the Greek Air Force still has about 16 F-4E fighters and plans to soon eliminate this line of aircraft and replace them with a squadron of F-35A stealth fighters.