A NATO fighter aircraft caught fire during an emergency landing at a Greek airport, according to officials. The F-16 made the landing at Zakynthos (Zante) Airport following an in-flight fire indication during a training session on Thursday afternoon.
The pilot safely escaped and was reported to be in good health after the emergency landing. The aircraft, belonging to the 116th Fighter Wing at Araxos, was conducting a training mission over the wider Ionian Sea region when it diverted to the airport, as per initial information from the Air Force General Staff.
Local media mentioned that the runway has been shut down while emergency services are handling the situation. Firefighters are on the scene, and flights have been canceled, as reported by local outlet Ermis News. The Air Force is currently investigating the incident, with reports suggesting a possible issue with the landing gear.
The 116th Fighter Wing of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force was equipped with F-16 fighter jets in 2007. The wing is stationed at Araxos Air Base, situated in northwestern Achaea, Greece, approximately 29 km southwest of Patras.
Greece possesses around 150 F-16 Fighting Falcons in its active inventory within the Hellenic Air Force, consisting of various models obtained over the years. While some F-16s were acquired in the late 1980s and 1990s, the 116th Fighter Wing operates the newer block-52 + ADV models.
Zakynthos Airport, inaugurated in 1972, accommodates over two million passengers annually, with a significant number being British tourists heading to the Zante party destination. Airlines such as British Airways, Ryanair, Jet2, and easyJet operate flights to the airport, with British passengers being the most prevalent nationality passing through, exceeding 720,000 in 2024.
