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Greek Air Force pilots killed in F-4 Phantom crash at Tanagra air show
Two experienced Greek Air Force pilots, 40-year-old Ioannis Bletsas and 37-year-old Dimitris Petrou, were killed when their F-4E Phantom II fighter jet crashed during the Athens Flying Week air show at Tanagra air base. The incident occurred on a Saturday afternoon as the aircraft was performing a maneuver to realign with the runway.
Investigators are examining several scenarios, including a sudden loss of altitude of approximately 800 feet during a right turn. Potential causes being analyzed include bird ingestion causing a compressor stall in the right engine, aerodynamic control loss, or human error. An air accident investigation committee is currently reviewing video footage from spectators and security cameras, as well as communications between the crew and the control tower.
Following the tragedy, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias declared a three-day mourning period for the armed forces. The funeral for Dimitris Petrou has been postponed due to ongoing procedural delays in the identification of the pilots' remains, which requires DNA testing. The crash has caused significant grief across Greece, particularly in the pilots' hometowns.
Entities
Dimitrios Petrou · Greek Air Force · Hellenic Air Force · Ioannis Bletsas · Nikos Dendias · Tánagra Air Base
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 19 SOURCES] The deceased pilots were 40-year-old Ioannis Bletsas and 37-year-old Dimitrios Petrou. www.larissapress.gr · www.larissanet.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.ieidiseis.gr · www.madata.gr · +14 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] The crash occurred during the Athens Flying Week air show at Tanagra air base. www.larissapress.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.madata.gr · www.milletnews.com · www.larissanet.gr · +13 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Defense Minister Nikos Dendias declared a three-day mourning period for the armed forces. www.milletnews.com · www.iefimerida.gr · greekcitytimes.com · seleo.gr
- [● 19 SOURCES] Two Greek Air Force pilots were killed in the crash. www.milletnews.com · www.larissapress.gr · www.larissanet.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.ieidiseis.gr · +13 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The F-4 Phantom aircraft belonged to the 117th Combat Wing, based in Andravida. www.milletnews.com · www.larissapress.gr
- [● 6 SOURCES] The aircraft suddenly lost altitude during a right turn while attempting to realign with the runway. www.milletnews.com · www.iefimerida.gr · www.madata.gr · www.larissanet.gr · www.reader.gr · +1 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Both pilots were highly experienced, each having over 1,500 flight hours. www.larissapress.gr · www.larissanet.gr · www.ieidiseis.gr · www.milletnews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] An air accident investigation committee has launched an inquiry into the crash. www.milletnews.com · www.iefimerida.gr · www.larissapress.gr