Greek F-16 makes landing, catches fire at Zakynthos

A Greek air force F-16 fighter jet made an emergency landing and caught fire at Zakynthos International Airport on Thursday, July 9, 2026, forcing a temporary closure of the runway and disrupting flights at the popular tourist destination. The pilot escaped unharmed.

The aircraft, an F-16C Fighting Falcon from the Hellenic Air Force's 116th Combat Wing, had taken off from Araxos Air Base on the Greek mainland. Officials stated the jet developed an unspecified technical fault during a routine training flight. According to reports, the aircraft touched down without deploying its landing gear, resulting in a belly landing on the airport's single runway. Flames were seen under the jet upon impact, and video footage showed the aircraft engulfed in fire on the tarmac as airport firefighters rushed to extinguish the blaze.

Emergency crews, which were pre-positioned along the runway, quickly contained the fire. Authorities confirmed the pilot brought the aircraft to a stop and was in good health following the incident. The runway was closed for several hours as crews worked to secure the scene and assess the damaged jet, which remained on the tarmac. The closure caused significant...