In brief
A training flight by a Greek F‑16 fighter was forced to crash‑land on the runway at Zakynthos airport on Thursday, causing a fire and temporarily shutting the island’s busiest summer terminal. The pilot was reported to be in good health and the cause of the incident is currently being investigated. While flames erupted on the runway and firefighters doused the jet, the aircraft slid for dozens of metres due to the landing gear not deploying. The crash disrupted flights, leading to delays for tourists expected to arrive in the area. The Air Force has dispatched a specialist team to remove the damaged jet and restore normal operations. The aircraft belonged to the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing based at Araxos Air Base.
Greek helicopter F‑16 crashes into Zakynthos airport during a training flight on Thursday morning.
The jet was flying a routine exercise when a technical fault forced it to land on the airport’s main runway at about 13:45 local time (10:45 GMT). Despite the emergency, the lone pilot was reported to be in good health.
According to media reports, an onboard fire was detected before touchdown, and when the aircraft slid approximately dozens of metres across the runway, the blaze threatened airport infrastructure. Firefighters were on scene immediately, spraying water over the plane to extinguish the flames.
Runway operations were suspended for several hours, delaying departures and arrivals of holidaymakers planning to visit the island that week. The hiatus added significant inconvenience to the already busy summer tourist season.
The Hellenic Air Force confirmed that the jet originated from the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing at Araxos Air Base in western Greece.
Specialist teams from the Air Force are expected to arrive soon to remove the damaged aircraft, allowing the airport to resume normal service. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the technical fault.
Citizens who were at Zakynthos airport or still on the island are encouraged to share their experiences safely through our community forum. You can report observations securely via the contact form available on our site.
