Greek Probe Opens After Flights Grounded During Air Traffic Radio Blackout

1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2026-1767621716757-1718

Greece Investigates Air Traffic Communications Outage Amid Flight Disruptions

An investigation has been launched after flights in Greece were grounded due to a national air traffic communications blackout on January 5, 2025. According to eKathimerini, the probe will be led by the police’s electronic crime team which will look at whether the offence of dangerous interference with aircraft transportation has been committed. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) explained that a ’noise’ over radio frequencies resulted in the country’s airspace being temporarily closed. Thousands of passengers were left stranded following the airspace closure on what is traditionally a very busy day for commercial travel.

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Key Takeaways

Flights in Greece were grounded due to a national air traffic communications blackout.
The blackout impacted almost all frequencies of the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR).
Airlines including Aegean Airlines, British Airways, Ryanair and Scandinavian Airlines were forced to cancel or divert flights.
The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority explained that a ’noise’ over radio frequencies resulted in the country’s airspace being temporarily closed.

Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority

Strategic Implications

This incident may indicate vulnerabilities in Greece’s air navigation systems. The blackout could suggest inadequate backup systems or insufficient training for air traffic controllers, which could have serious consequences for aviation safety and security.