Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority on Athens FIR: Massive interference on nearly all frequencies, an unprecedented incident

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) reported a massive interference incident that disrupted astir each vigor frequencies serving the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR). The incidental caused wide formation delays and airspace restrictions connected Sunday morning.

According to the HCAA, this was an unprecedented event owed to its scale, geographic reach, and duration.

Continuous Radio Noise Caused Communication Failure

The Authority detected continuous and unintended vigor transmissions crossed aggregate frequencies. This “noise” made connection betwixt pilots and aerial postulation power unsafe.

HCAA technicians, moving intimately with OTE engineers, instantly began efforts to find and hole the problem. At the aforesaid time, respective operational connection lines besides failed.

Crisis Management Team Activated Immediately

The HCAA activated its Crisis Management Team aboriginal connected Sunday. The squad met astatine the Athens Area Control Center nether the enactment of HCAA Governor Konstantinos Saounatsos.

Senior aerial navigation officials and method directors joined the operation. The squad maintained changeless coordination with EUROCONTROL to negociate aerial postulation safely.

Emergency Aircraft Deployed to Trace Interference

Later successful the day, the HCAA ordered a specialized aircraft to instrumentality disconnected connected an exigency mission. On committee were HCAA electronics engineers and a specializer from the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT).

Their ngo focused connected detecting the root of the interference from the air. At the aforesaid time, crushed teams inspected transmission sites crossed Greece, including Hymettus, Pelion, Thassos, and Akarnania.

Air Traffic Reduced for Safety Reasons

To support formation safety, aerial postulation controllers reduced capableness successful the Athens FIR to 35 craft per hour. After 16:00 section time, authorities accrued capableness to 45 craft per hour arsenic systems stabilized.

Air Traffic Controllers Blame Outdated Equipment

The Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers Association described the incidental arsenic extremely serious. The national linked the nonaccomplishment to aging and poorly maintained connection systems.

Controllers utilized each disposable backup tools to support craft already successful Greek airspace safe. Authorities besides suspended departures from each Greek airports for flights entering the Athens FIR. When possible, they rerouted craft done neighboring FIRs.

Calls for Immediate Investigation

The Association called for an urgent investigation involving the Civil Aviation Authority (APA) and the Air Accident Investigation Authority (EODASAAM). It besides demanded a wide timeline for afloat strategy restoration.

Controllers warned that akin incidents person occurred before. They pointed to a large connection and radar nonaccomplishment successful August 2025 that ne'er led to accountability.

Chaos astatine Greek Airports, Including Eleftherios Venizelos

Earlier connected Sunday, severe disruption affected Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” and airports nationwide. Aircraft remained grounded, portion arrivals and departures faced agelong delays.

Airlines worked to reschedule flights, but the disruption affected some home and planetary travel. The interaction was particularly dense owed to precocious vacation instrumentality traffic.