Zakynthos Airport runway closed after F-16 makes emergency landing

Zakynthos Airport’s runway will remain closed until at least 7 p.m. Thursday after a Greek Air Force F-16 fighter jet made an emergency landing following a reported onboard fire, disrupting travel plans for hundreds of tourists through flight delays and cancellations.

The pilot was unharmed and was taken by military helicopter to the 117th Combat Wing in Andravida, western Greece, for precautionary medical checks.

A specialized Air Force team was scheduled to arrive on Zakynthos to remove the damaged aircraft and clear the runway.

The F-16, operated by the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing, had departed from Araxos Air Base on a training mission before the incident.

Initial assessments suggested the aircraft may have experienced a problem with its landing gear, though the cause of the emergency landing was still being investigated.

Kathimerini