Greece’s air traffic control system suffered a major communications outage on Sunday, cutting contact between controllers and aircraft across much of the country and forcing authorities to suspend flights into and over Greek airspace. Controllers described radios falling silent mid-operation, replaced by a high-pitched noise, while internet systems also failed, disrupting coordination nationwide. The outage, which lasted several hours, stranded thousands of passengers before systems inexplicably came back online.

Officials have ruled out a cyberattack but admitted they do not yet know what caused the blackout or how it resolved itself. Controllers managed to find a limited number of functioning radio frequencies, but not enough to ensure safe operations, prompting the unprecedented shutdown. Neighbouring countries assisted using telephone communication, with aviation experts describing the episode as a “black hole” in Greek airspace that could have caused chaos during peak tourist season.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of Greece’s ageing and underfunded air traffic infrastructure, much of which dates back to the 1990s. Unions and experts warn that outdated equipment and staffing shortages pose ongoing safety risks, despite government assurances that modernisation plans meeting EU standards are underway and scheduled for completion by 2028. Critics argue that human expertise can no longer compensate for systemic weaknesses, warning of further disruptions if upgrades are delayed.

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