Radio Failure Grounds Hundreds of Flights in Greece

A massive radio communication failure crippled air traffic control across Greece on Sunday, January 4, 2026, grounding hundreds of flights and stranding thousands of travelers at airports nationwide. The disruption, which began in the early morning hours, led to the suspension of arrivals and departures at major hubs like Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, emptying Greek airspace and forcing diversions to neighboring countries.

Greece's civil aviation authority confirmed that the collapse affected all ground frequencies and some used by the Athens Approach control unit, which manages aircraft arriving and departing from the capital. Operations halted around 9 a.m. local time, with security check-ins closing and massive queues forming in terminals. Flight trackers showed the Athens Flight Information Region, a vast expanse of airspace monitored by the country's largest control facility in Athens and Macedonia, largely devoid of traffic. Authorities imposed restrictions on airport operations for safety reasons, though some overflights in regional airspace continued with limited servicing.

The cause remained unclear as investigations continued, but Panagiotis...