Greece F-4 Phantom Crash Latest Update: Who Were the Two Pilots Killed in Tanagra Air Show Tragedy? What We Know About the Tragedy
By: Sumit Kumar Last Updated: September 6, 2026 15:58:32 IST Greece F-4 Phantom Crash Latest Update: For thousands of aviation enthusiasts gathered at Tanagra to watch a military aircraft demonstration, the spectacle suddenly turned into a tragedy on Saturday afternoon. A Greek Air Force F-4E Phantom II crashed shortly after taking off during the Athens Flying Week air show, killing both pilots and sending a huge plume of smoke into the sky. The aircraft went down at around 2:55 p.m. local time on September 5, near Tanagra, north of Athens. The Hellenic Air Force later identified the two crew members as Major Ioannis Blesias, 40, and Captain Dimitrios Petrou, 37. Both belonged to the Greek Air Force and were flying the F-4E Phantom II as part of the aerial display.
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The aircraft suddenly lost altitude before hitting the ground, according to initial reports. Greece F-4 Phantom Crash Latest Update: Who Were the Two Pilots Killed in Tanagra Air Show Tragedy? Video and eyewitness accounts showed the aircraft falling near the airfield before a large fire developed at the crash site.
