Greece shuts airspace after communications failure strands thousands of passengers across Europe

Thousands of passengers were left stranded across Europe after Greece temporarily closed its airspace following a major failure in air traffic control communications, triggering widespread flight cancellations and delays.

The disruption began early Sunday when radio communications between air traffic controllers and aircraft were lost, forcing authorities to suspend arrivals and departures as a safety precaution. While some outbound flights later resumed, inbound aircraft were instructed to divert or return to their airports of origin.

Athens International Airport was among the worst affected, with more than 90 flights disrupted. Thessaloniki airport suspended operations entirely. Officials said that departures were being allowed at a limited rate, but incoming flights remained restricted.

Flights from several European cities, including Dublin, Paris and Barcelona, were ordered to turn back, while services from Copenhagen and Malta were cancelled. Other aircraft were diverted to neighbouring countries, including Turkey.

Passengers reported long delays and a lack of clear information. Several travellers said they were uncertain when they would be able to continue their journeys, raising concerns about returning home before the start of the working week.

Greek airspace, which normally handles more than 600 flights a day, appeared almost empty during the disruption, according to flight tracking data. The incident occurred during a busy travel period as people returned from winter holidays.

The issue is believed to be linked to a failure in the radio system used by air traffic controllers. The Association of Greek Air Traffic Controllers said all communication frequencies were suddenly lost, making it impossible to safely manage aircraft.

State broadcaster ERT reported that an initial security assessment pointed to a possible antenna failure in the Gerania Mountains near Athens. Authorities are continuing investigations.

Italy, Turkey and Cyprus are assisting Greece in managing diverted flights and restoring normal operations.