Archive · 5 Jan 2026
Greece Halts Flights Due to Radio Frequency Disruption
Greece's airports stopped all flights on Sunday because there was a problem with the radio signals that help planes communicate.
This made the sky over Greece very empty.
The authorities are trying to find out what caused the problem.
Some planes that were flying over Greece were still being helped, but the airports had to stop working for a while to keep everyone safe.
People at the airports were waiting because they couldn't leave or arrive.
The problem started at 9:00 am local time.
Flights were diverted to nearby countries like Italy, Cyprus, Turkey, Austria, and Israel.
The problem is expected to be fixed by 4:00 p.m.
local time.
Greece's airports suspended all arrivals and departures due to a radio frequency disruption.
The suspension began at 9:00 am local time (0700 GMT).
Authorities are investigating the cause of the disruption, with some suggesting it's due to ancient equipment.
Some overflights within the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) were being serviced with restrictions.
Airport operations faced restrictions for safety reasons, leading to crowded scenes at departure terminals and flights being diverted to neighboring countries.
- Who
- Greek authorities and aviation officials
- What
- Suspension of air traffic due to radio frequency disruption
- When
- 9:00 am local time (0700 GMT)
- Where
- Greece, specifically the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR)
- Why
- To ensure safety due to unspecified issues affecting radio frequencies
Technical Issues
Aging Infrastructure
Cause of Disruption
Technical Issues
The disruption was caused by a technical glitch in the radio frequency systems.
Aging Infrastructure
The disruption was caused by the use of ancient equipment that has been a concern for a long time.
- Cause
- Radio frequency disruption
- Affected Area
- Greece
- Time of Suspension
- 9:00 am local time (0700 GMT)
- Affected Region
- Athens Flight Information Region (FIR)
- Status of Overflights
- Some overflights were being serviced with restrictions
- Investigation
- Authorities are investigating the cause
- Airport Impacted
- Athens’s Eleftherios Venizelos airport
- Diverted Flights
- Italy, Cyprus, Turkey, Austria, and Israel
- Expected Resolution Time
- 4:00 p.m. local time
Sources
Attention flyers! Greece airports suspend arrivals and departures; here's why
Why Did Greece Airports Suddenly Suspend Operations? ‘Airspace Emptied’
Radio frequency loss grounds flights in Greece, stranding thousands
Greece halts all flights nationwide after technical glitch – Where are flights diverted to?
Aviation Emergency in Greece: Thousands Stranded as Collapse of Radio Frequencies Cripples Air Traffic
Some Greek flights resume after air traffic radio failure
Flights Grounded In Greece Due To Radio Frequency Loss
Some Greek flights resume after air traffic radio collapse
