World

Greek F-4 jet crashes during air show near Athens

By AAP Newswire

Sep 6, 2026

Smoke rises at Tanagra Air Force Base — A fighter jet crash has started a fire in front of spectators at the Athens Flying Week air show. -AP

A Greek two-seat F-4 Phantom fighter ‌jet has crashed during ‌an air show at Tanagra airport, near Athens, a Greek Air Force official says.

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Video footage from ‌public ‌broadcaster ⁠ERT, which first reported the crash, showed a column of black smoke rising a few hundred metres from spectators watching the air show.

Eleven water-dropping planes and helicopters assisted 85 firefighters in an effort to contain the fire following the crash, which remained at some distance from the viewing area at Athens Flying Week, an annual air show.

The fate of ‌the pilots was not immediately known, and it was unclear whether anyone in the crowd had been injured, the official said.

"A search ‌and rescue operation is under way," the official added.

Loudspeakers at the air base were urging people to leave the area, according to ERT.

The Tanagra air force base is 60km north of Athens.

with AP