An unexpected incident occurred during the demonstrations at “Athens Flying Week 2026,” as a Phantom aircraft crashed. The aircraft went down at Tanagra air base, with thick plumes of smoke observed rising from the crash site shortly after. The fate of the crew members aboard the aircraft remains unknown — the jet went down just moments before landing, in front of hundreds of spectators watching from close range.
According to reports, the incident was recorded just before 3:00 PM local time. Reliable sources indicate the aircraft was a two-seat Phantom, meaning two crew members were on board at the time of the crash.
As currently understood, the aircraft made a wide banking turn to the right and, instead of gaining altitude, came down at the edge of the runway — followed immediately by a large fireball erupting at the scene.
At this stage, no ejection from the aircraft appears to have been witnessed by those present.
The Athens Flying Week event, held over two days on September 5th and 6th, is one of the largest airshow gatherings in Southeastern Europe.
The event’s program features aircraft formations, high-difficulty aerobatic maneuvers, as well as parachute drops by skydivers.
