Zakynthos Airport closed after emergency landing of Greek F-16

As ERTnews further reported, incoming flights had to be diverted to other airports. Charter flights were suspended for the time being, as stated: "doch Charterflüge gehen vorerst keine mehr". The closure thus came right at the peak of the tourist season on the Ionian island.

Numerous passengers and tourists filmed the burning fighter jet and posted the spectacular incident on social media. The footage shows thick smoke and flames rising from the aircraft while emergency crews attended to the fire.

Impact on travel

The Greek authorities said the cause was being investigated. There were initially no indications of external fault or an outside threat, according to the reports at hand.

The incident occurred in the middle of the high season, during which thousands of holidaymakers arrive in or depart from Zakynthos every day. The closure of the runway led to delays and diversions, as capacities at other airports on the Greek mainland had to be absorbed at short notice.

The Greek air force has been operating F-16 fighter jets for decades; aircraft of this type are regularly used for training and patrol flights in the Mediterranean region. No official information was initially provided about the specific mission of the jet on the day of the incident.

Investigations and open questions

Passengers whose flights were affected by the closure were diverted to nearby airports, according to the airport administration. The duration of the closure was initially unclear until the wreckage could be recovered and the runway cleared by the emergency services.

Greek investigators announced that they would carry out a detailed review of the incident and publish a technical report on the F-16. Until the investigation is completed, the exact cause of the malfunction remains open.