Greek F-16 fighter jet makes emergency landing in Zakynthos

On Thursday, July 9, an F-16 fighter jet belonging to the 116th Combat Wing of the Hellenic Air Force performed an emergency landing at Zakynthos International Airport. The pilot, who had been conducting a training flight, reported a mechanical failure and an onboard fire while over the Ionian Sea. The pilot successfully followed safety protocols, including jettisoning fuel tanks and landing the aircraft without deploying its landing gear. The pilot is in good health and was transported by military helicopter to the 117th Combat Wing in Andravida for medical evaluation. Due to the incident, the airport was temporarily closed to commercial flights, causing delays and cancellations for hundreds of tourists. Municipal authorities are coordinating the removal of the aircraft and the cleaning of the runway. Operations are expected to resume following technical inspections scheduled for completion after 19:00. The Municipality of Zakynthos has requested that tourism professionals assist affected travelers by potentially extending their stays.