×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Thursday
14
May 2026
weather symbol
Athens 20°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Greece

Two Greek pilots, 8 French, killed in terrible crash during NATO training exercise

21 injuries, of which seven are in the ICU, in critical condition

Newsroom January 26 05:51

Δείτε περισσότερα άρθρα μας στα αποτελέσματα αναζήτησης

Add Protothema.gr on Google

The terrible accident during the NATO exercise in Albacete, Spain, when the Greek F-16 crashed on the runway, killing its two operators and eight French airmen, wounding 21 French and Italian military personnel, has caused worldwide shock and awe.

 

The two-seater F-16 BLock 50, one of four Greek fighter jets in Los Llanos, Albacete, Spain was taking part in the 2015 Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP). It was 14:40 GMT, 26th of January.

 

During takeoff, the hardest part of the flight, the F-16 veered to the right and crashed on the runway.

 

The two Greek pilots who lost their lives, Panagiotis Laskaris, 35, married with one son, and 31 year-old Athanassios Zagas, 31, married with a son and a daughter, were killed when the F-16 crashed to the ground.

 

The 21 wounded are comprised of 11 French and 10 Italians. Seven of them are in the ICU.

 

The F-16 was fully fueled and its engines were roaring. The toxic black smoke hid behind it five more fighter jets and several helicopters which were also destroyed from the terrible collision. One can only imagine the scene of carnage when the jet rolled in flames towards crewed aircraft ready to partake in the exercise.

 

 

 

tww1

>Related articles

See Greece’s 624 blue flag beaches for 2026 — some will surprise you: The 17 best beaches in Attica

The second 17-year-old student who jumped from an apartment building in Ilioupoli has also died

€3.6 million in compensation for 226 livestock farmers over sheep and goat pox outbreak

tww

photo apo rt gia f-16

skafos nea photo ki alli

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

> More Greece

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

AHEPA hosts successful 2026 biennial congressional banquet in Washington

May 15, 2026

See Greece’s 624 blue flag beaches for 2026 — some will surprise you: The 17 best beaches in Attica

May 14, 2026

The second 17-year-old student who jumped from an apartment building in Ilioupoli has also died

May 14, 2026

The Fall of BioNTech: The Turkish-born couple who discovered the COVID vaccine, but not a cure for the economic crisis

May 14, 2026

Horror in Switzerland: Head of cardiology clinic linked to deaths of 70 patients, allegedly implanted defective device from his own company

May 14, 2026

Christodoulides’ speech in Parliament: “Reunification is the vow that unites Cyprus and Greece”

May 14, 2026

Cuba ready to consider $100 million U.S. aid proposal amid major power outage

May 14, 2026

Emotional scenes in the Ambracian Gulf: Mother dolphin mourns her calf, refuses to leave it behind

May 14, 2026
All News

> Greece

In reverence, the emotional deposition in Jerusalem, see photos & video

The Holy Temple of the Resurrection opened after many days due to the war between Israel and Iran

April 10, 2026

In the final stretch for the accreditation of joint master’s degrees: Aiming for their launch in the coming academic year

April 10, 2026

Schedule for Epitaph Procession today (10/4)

April 10, 2026

Perfect weather for Easter excursions, according to Tsatrafyllia’s forecast

April 10, 2026

Easter in Greece: The customs that continue in Greek tradition – From Nafpaktos to Corfu

April 10, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα