A GREEK fighter jet has crashed during an air show watched by several thousand spectators at an airport near Athens.
Shocking footage showed plumes of black smoke rising from the crash site, a few hundred metres from a stunned crowd.
Two helicopters were battling the fire on the spot.
There were no immediate reports of injuries among attendees following the crash of the twin-seat Phantom F4 jet.
Air force officials said it was not immediately clear whether pilots had managed to eject before the crash.
And it was unclear whether anyone in the crowd had been injured.
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“A search and rescue operation is under way,” the official added.
A water-dropping helicopter hovered over the crash site to contain the fire on the ground.
According to initial reports, the aircraft has been cut in two with a fire igniting in two separate places.
The incident occurred at Athens Flying Week, an annual air show, at Tanagra air force base.
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According to local media, the plane crashed shortly after it began its display.
Smoke could be seen streaming from the jet before it suddenly lost altitude and plummeted to the ground, eyewitnesses told Greek outlet Oema.
Around 85 firefighters were deployed to the scene in 23 emergency vehicles.
Seven aircraft and four helicopters have also been mobilised to tackle the blaze from the sky.
Event organisers immediately began evacuating the area, with the show suspended.
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