Airports across Greece halted arrivals and departures on Sunday due to unspecified issues affecting radio communications, authorities said. Greek state television and the country’s civil aviation authority confirmed the disruption and said an investigation into the cause was underway.
Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority reported that while some overflights using the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) were being managed, airport operations were restricted for safety reasons. Flight tracking data showed that Greek airspace was largely empty during the suspension.
State broadcaster ERT reported that all arrivals and departures were suspended at 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT). Footage from Athens’s Eleftherios Venizelos Airport showed crowded departure terminals as travellers faced unexpected delays. Several flights were being diverted to neighbouring countries, ERT said.
The disruption had regional implications. Israel’s Airports Authority said Greek airspace remained closed until 4 p.m. local time and advised passengers to expect delays in flights arriving from or departing to Greece.
Authorities did not specify the technical issues behind the suspension, though the civil aviation authority confirmed they were related to radio frequencies used for air traffic control. Aviation officials emphasized that the measures were precautionary to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
Airlines operating in and out of Greece were forced to adjust schedules, reroute flights, and manage passengers impacted by the sudden shutdown. Travelers reported confusion and long lines at check-in counters, with some facing extended waits for information about alternative routes or rescheduled flights.
Greece’s aviation network is a critical hub for regional travel, connecting Europe with the eastern Mediterranean. The sudden halt in operations disrupted both domestic and international traffic, highlighting the potential vulnerability of air travel to technical issues affecting communication systems.
The civil aviation authority said it would provide updates once the issue was resolved and stressed that safety remained the top priority. Airline representatives encouraged passengers to monitor flight status through official channels and prepare for possible delays as operations gradually resumed.
This incident comes amid increasing scrutiny of air traffic management systems globally, with aviation authorities emphasizing the importance of maintaining communication infrastructure to avoid widespread disruptions. Passengers affected by the closure in Greece experienced delays across multiple countries, underscoring the interdependence of European airspace networks.
