Two pilots have died after a fighter jet crashed and erupted into a raging fireball, leaving large plumes of black smoke engulfing the plane at a Greek air show.
The fatal incident occurred when a Phantom F4 jet crashed during a low-altitude manoeuvre at Tanagra Air Force Base.
The incident occurred around 40 miles north of the Greek capital of Athens yesterday.
Helicopters, planes and 85 firefighters attended the plane crash, with the bodies of the two pilots being recovered, but both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The event was attended by thousands of spectators; luckily, none were injured in the crash.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “The sense of grief is widespread, and our thoughts are with the families of the two pilots we lost.
“It is a reminder of the daily danger faced by Greece’s aviators, who remain on constant standby to protect Greece’s skies.”
Cyprus’ defense minister Vasilis Palmas posted on X: “It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of the two officers of the Hellenic air force, who lost their lives in the tragic accident that occurred during the air show at Tanagra air base.”
The air force has declared a three-day period of mourning following the crash.
It comes just weeks after the pilot of a light aircraft was seriously injured in a crash at an event being held at the site of a First World War-era aerodrome.
In a statement, the aerodrome said one of the aircraft involved in a display by the Turbulent team was damaged, the pilot was injured, and the air show was halted in mid-August.
The event was sold out.
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The incident is under investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
The air show was advertised as a “festival of aviation” to raise funds for the on-site First World War military aviation museum, according to its website.
Pilots chased balloons and dropped flour bombs from the single-seat light aircraft.
The aerodrome houses the largest intact group of Royal Flying Corps (RFC) buildings from the First World War.
It played a “pivotal role” in Britain’s air defence during the first bombing raids, its website says.
The Turbulent Team’s website describes the French-designed aircraft, believed to have been first flown in 1953, as “little more than a flying motorbike”, weighing about 350lbs when empty.
Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, flew in the Druine Turbulent in 1959, becoming the first member of the Royal Family to fly a single-seat aircraft.
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