Greece experienced a nationwide air travel disruption after a sudden technical failure knocked out critical communication systems used by air traffic controllers, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend flight operations across the country.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning when controllers lost access to multiple radio frequencies required to communicate with aircraft. As a precautionary safety measure, Greece’s civil aviation authorities ordered a temporary closure of national airspace, halting both arrivals and departures at major airports.
Thousands of passengers were affected as flights were delayed, canceled, or diverted to alternative destinations. Athens International Airport saw the heaviest impact, with dozens of flights unable to land during the outage. Other regional airports, including Thessaloniki, were also forced to suspend operations entirely for several hours.
Officials emphasized that passenger safety was never compromised. Pilots and controllers later re-established limited contact using backup systems, allowing a gradual resumption of departures by the afternoon. By late day, air traffic flow had partially stabilized, though delays continued into the evening.
Preliminary assessments suggest the disruption may have been caused by technical interference affecting ground-based aviation equipment. Authorities are investigating whether aging infrastructure played a role, as aviation unions have previously raised concerns about outdated systems within the country’s air traffic network.
Neighboring countries assisted Greece by managing diverted flights and providing airspace support during the shutdown, helping to ease congestion in the region.
The incident unfolded during a busy travel period, amplifying its impact on international and domestic passengers. Aviation officials stated that a full technical review is underway to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
Airlines have advised travelers to monitor flight updates closely as schedules continue to normalize.
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