A Hellenic Air Force F‑16 training jet crash‑landed at Zakynthos airport around 13:45 local time (10:45 GMT) Thursday, forcing the closure of one of Greece’s busiest summer holiday airstrips.
The Air Force said the aircraft developed a technical fault and landed without deploying its landing gear. The jet slid along the runway and caught fire, prompting a rapid response from airport firefighters.
According to the Air Force, the pilot was in good health and was extracted safely. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
The runway closure led to widespread flight delays, with all remaining Thursday flights scheduled to depart until 21:00 postponed. The incident comes at the critical onset of Greece’s summer travel rush, when thousands of tourists from the UK and elsewhere are expected to fly to the Ionian island.
A specialist team from the Hellenic Air Force is expected to coordinate the removal of the aircraft and resume operations.
Video footage of the jet ablaze circulated on social media, showing firefighters dousing the burning wreckage.
