On Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Greek state TV and the aviation authority of the country reported that air traffic had been grounded in the airports of Greece due to a radio frequency upset.
Flights in Greece were cancelled, and the airspace was cleared.
Flights Cancelled Across Greece
The officials indicated that the reason behind the disruption was under investigation. According to a Reuters report, Greece civil aviation authority reported that some overflights over the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) were still taking place though there were restrictions imposed on operations at the airports in the name of safety.
Data on flight-tracking was used to indicate that there was significant emptiness in the Greek airspace. State-run television ERT announced that flights in and out of airports in Greece had been cancelled since 9:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), showing images of the departure terminal of Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport full of stranded passengers.
🚨 UPDATE: Athens Airport in Total Chaos – Security Check-In Closed Since 9 AM! 🚫✈️
Due to the ongoing radio frequency failure in Greek airspace (started early January 4, 2026), NO takeoffs possible nationwide.
Security check-in & departures halted at Athens International since… pic.twitter.com/dAJG7p6mDE— Greek City Times (@greekcitytimes) January 4, 2026
Chaos at Greek Airports as Radio Frequency Upset Grounds Flights
It was also reported that some of the flights were being redirected to other neighbouring countries.
A spokesperson of the Airports Authority in Israel stated that the Greek airspace would be closed until 4:00 p.m. local time and advised passengers that they should expect a delay in both arrivals and departures.
Security Check-In Stamped 9 AM and Out! NO takeoffs are possible nationwide due to radio frequency failure that occurred in Greek airspace since the beginning of January 4, 2026.
Athens International Airport security check-in services and departures were also suspended as of about 9 AM, Greek City Times wrote on X.
🚨 #BREAKING Severe air traffic disruptions due to a communications failure in #Greek #ATC, #Athens & #Makedonia #FIR, causing major delays. #Greece has declared Zero Rate airspace until 14:00utc#Aviation #Greece #AirTraffic #Flights@fl360aero @OnDisasters @flightradar24 pic.twitter.com/1yRxUNWarw
— Aviation News Israel (@AviationNewsIL) January 4, 2026
Long queues, passengers stranded. Landings at the airport by hand were feasible, but numerous diversions/delays. All Greek airports impacted FIR Athens in effect.
Civil Aviation Authority hurried mend, though not ETA. Airlines sending notices- huge delays/ cancellations today, it added.
