An F-4 Phantom II warplane crashed in the Ionian Sea off the coast of the Peloponnese, the Greek Air Force said on Monday. One of the pilots died, the other is wanted.
The Hellenic Air Force said in a statement that the two-seat fighter crashed during an exercise on Monday around 10.30 am, 46 kilometers south of Andravida base on the Greek peninsula of Peloponnese. A 29-year-old pilot was killed, a second, 31-year-old is wanted. Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos announced three days of mourning in the ranks of the military.
F-4 Phantom in the Hellenic Air Force
Greece first acquired F-4 Phantom fighters, manufactured by the American manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, in 1974.
Machines of this type ended flying in American colors in 2016. Their service lasted 56 years. During this time, the F-4 took part in a number of wars, and built its legend during the Vietnam War. After being retired by the Americans, the planes after 2016 served in the air forces of Iran, Japan, South Korea, Turkey and Greece.
F-4 Phantom II of the Hellenic Air Force over Andravida Air Base in PeloponnesePhoto from April 3, 2019Shutterstock
Main photo source: Shutterstock