Greece Closes Airspace After Communications Failure, Thousands of Passengers Stranded Across Europe.
Radio system outage disrupts flights as arrivals are suspended and widespread delays hit Greek airports.
Thousands of passengers were stranded across Europe after a radio communications failure forced Greece to temporarily close its airspace, leading to mass flight cancellations and delays. The disruption began on Sunday morning when air traffic controllers lost the ability to communicate with aircraft, prompting authorities to suspend arrivals and departures for safety reasons.
While some outbound flights have gradually resumed, inbound flights remain restricted, with many being diverted or ordered to return to their points of origin. Athens International Airport has been the worst affected, with more than 90 flights disrupted, while Thessaloniki Airport was closed entirely. Other regional airports, including Heraklion in Crete, also reported delays and cancellations.
Greek authorities, supported by Italy, Turkey, and Cyprus, are investigating the cause of the outage. Initial findings suggest a possible antenna failure in the Gerania Mountains near Athens. Aviation officials warn that recovery may take time, raising concerns for travelers trying to return home ahead of the working week.
