An extraordinary technical crisis unfolded Sunday when massive interference struck nearly all frequencies in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) starting at 08:59 local time. Described by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as unprecedented in its scope, geographic reach, and duration, the disruption manifested as continuous, involuntary noise emissions across radio channels, HELLAS COM lines, and operational phone connections. This led to a near-total airspace blackout, grounding aircraft, canceling flights, and diverting arrivals amid peak holiday traffic.
CAA electronics teams sprang into action alongside OTE technicians to trace the source. A Crisis Response Team, led by Director Mr. Saunatsos and including Deputy Aviation Director Mr. Vagena and Aviation Director General Mr. Sfakianakis, convened at Athens Area Control Center. They coordinated relentlessly with EUROCONTROL and external bodies, deploying checks at key transmission sites including Hymettus, Pelion, Thassos, Acarnanian Mountains, Monastery, and Geraneia Mountains. Midday saw a specialized CAA aircraft lift off urgently, carrying agency electronics and an EETT technician for targeted aerial probing.
At “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport, the fallout was immediate and severe. Eight aircraft poised for takeoff returned to parking stands, three inbound flights diverted to alternate airports, four were outright canceled, and 75 others faced delays as air traffic control issued strict slot assignments. To decongest, departures to the north, east, and south proceeded every four minutes irrespective of aircraft type or size. Capacity dropped to 35 aircraft per hour initially, rising to 45 after 16:00. Sunday’s dense schedule, exacerbated by holiday returnees and last-minute bookings spurred by farmer protests, amplified the chaos across domestic routes and international arrivals from major hubs.
Ripple effects hit Cyprus and beyond
The blackout extended to Cyprus flights, as confirmed by Hermes Airports to CNA. Larnaca saw two departures (Aegean and Sky) and one arrival (Aegean) disrupted, impacting roughly 500 passengers. Paphos’ 16:20 Ryanair flight to Athens hung in the balance pending resolution. Airlines rerouted overflights avoiding the FIR, urging passengers to track updates. Cyprus’ Transport Ministry echoed calls to contact carriers before heading to airports amid the Greek airspace closure.
Antenna fault confirmed, no foul play
National Cybersecurity Authority and National Intelligence Service (NCSA) joined probes, swiftly ruling out sabotage or cyberattacks. Investigations pinpointed a technical failure in a CAA antenna at Geraneia Mountains, a critical FIR asset. Sources pointed to potential hardware issues like a faulty circuit board sparking internal tuning and widespread jamming, echoing an earlier site check.
Full restoration came swiftly: frequencies and lines operational by 17:00, air traffic normalized at 17:45. CAA confirmed seamless recovery, with ongoing technical scrutiny to avert repeats. Final advisory noted external coordination with EUROCONTROL, safety-prioritized ops at 35 departures/arrivals plus partial transits in three sectors, and an updated NOTAM.
Source: LIFO
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