Zakynthos Airport in Greece was forced to close its runway after a Hellenic Air Force F-16 fighter jet made an emergency landing following a reported onboard fire, causing significant disruption for holidaymakers travelling to and from the popular island destination.
The runway closure was expected to continue until at least Thursday evening at 19:00., with hundreds of passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations. A specialist Air Force team was dispatched to remove the damaged aircraft and restore normal airport operations.
The F-16, operated by 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing, had taken off from Araxos Air Base on a training mission when the incident occurred. The pilot successfully completed the emergency landing and was unharmed before being transported by military helicopter to the 117th Combat Wing in Andravida for precautionary medical checks.
Initial reports indicated a possible landing gear malfunction, although the exact cause of the incident remains under investigation. The aircraft’s removal is required before the runway can safely reopen for commercial flights.
This post was published on 9 July 2026 20:29
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