A Hellenic Air Force F-16 fighter jet crash-landed at Zakynthos airport on Thursday, leading to the closure of one of Greece's busiest summer travel hubs. The aircraft was on a training flight when it encountered a technical issue at approximately 1:45 p.m. local time.
The pilot of the jet is reported to be in good health, and an investigation into the cause of the incident is underway. Greek media reports suggest the pilot received an indication of an onboard fire before landing, and the aircraft subsequently caught fire on the runway. Firefighters and airport personnel responded to the emergency.
According to Kathimerini newspaper, the fighter jet landed without its landing gear deployed, causing it to slide along the runway. The Hellenic Air Force has not officially commented on this specific detail. Video footage circulating on social media appears to show the jet engulfed in flames while being doused by fire crews.
The F-16 involved in the incident belongs to the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing, based at Araxos Air Base in western Greece. The runway closure has caused significant delays for flights scheduled on Thursday, with information boards indicating disruptions until 9:00 p.m. This incident occurs at the peak of the summer holiday season, a period when thousands of tourists, many from the UK, visit the island weekly.
A specialized air force team is expected to travel to Zakynthos, an island in the Ionian Sea, to remove the damaged aircraft and allow airport operations to resume.