A Greek air force jet crash resulted in the deaths of two pilots during an air show on Saturday, near Athens. Despite thousands of spectators watching the event at Tanagra Air Force Base, no civilians were injured.

The twin-seat Phantom F4 jet crashed into the ground while performing a low-altitude maneuver, causing a massive plume of smoke. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed condolences, citing the inherent risks faced by pilots protecting the nation’s airspace.

The sense of grief is widespread, and our thoughts are with the families of the two pilots we lost.

A total of 11 water-dropping aircraft and helicopters, alongside 85 firefighters, tackled the blaze ignited by the crash. Eyewitness accounts noted the jet fell mere minutes after takeoff, shocking onlookers.

The incident led to the cancellation of the Athens Flying Week events. The situation struck a chord with Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas of Cyprus, who conveyed his sadness and contacted Greece’s National Defense Minister, Nikos Dendias.

The country’s air force announced a three-day mourning period to honor the fallen pilots. Similar fatal incidents have occurred, such as a jet collision in Idaho this May, from which pilots survived by ejecting safely.

The Associated Press and Reuters provided contributions to this report.