Politis

Massive Interference Disrupts Air Traffic in Athens

Published January 4, 2026, 17:13
Massive Interference Disrupts Air Traffic in Athens

A widespread interference affecting almost all frequencies serving Athens airspace caused significant delays and cancellations of flights across Greece. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) described the incident as “unprecedented” due to its scale, duration, and the sheer number of frequencies impacted, beginning on January 4th at 08:59 local time and affecting HELLAS COM communication lines and telephone lines. The HCAA immediately mobilized technicians and formed a crisis management team, collaborating with EUROCONTROL to manage Athens FIR. Initially, the number of aircraft served was reduced to 35 per hour, but increased to 45 after 16:00. Simultaneously, on-site checks of transmission systems were conducted at various regional units, and a specially equipped aircraft was deployed to investigate the interference from the air. The Air Traffic Controllers Association attributes the incident to outdated equipment and calls for an investigation.