Greek airports halt flights due to radio frequency issues

On January 3, airports across Greece suspended arrivals and departures after unspecified issues affecting radio frequencies, Greek state TV and the country's aviation authority said.

Authorities said they were investigating the cause. Some overflights using the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) were being serviced but restrictions were in place on airport operations for safety reasons, Greece's civil aviation authority said, per Reuters.

Flight trackers showed Greek airspace was largely empty. State broadcaster ERT said airport arrivals and departures were suspended at 9:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), reporting from a departures terminal at Athens's Eleftherios Venizelos airport crowded with travellers.

The broadcaster said flights were being diverted to neighbouring countries. In Israel, an Airports Authority spokesperson said Greek airspace had been closed until 16:00 local, advising travellers to expect delays in arrivals and departures.

By Khagan Isayev