Greek F-4 Phantom crashes during Athens airshow

An F-4 Phantom military aircraft crashed Saturday at a base outside Athens during the annual Athens Flying Week airshow, Greek news agency ANA reported.

The circumstances of the crash were unclear, and local media said the fate of the two pilots aboard was also unclear.

A journalist from public broadcaster ERT who was at the scene said the aircraft had just taken off when it lost altitude and crashed. The journalist said there was an explosion immediately after the crash, which happened in front of thousands of visitors.

ERT reported that a fire service helicopter was sent to extinguish the blaze caused by the crash.

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias cancelled a trip to Thessaloniki's International Fair to visit the accident scene.