Chaos and major disruption have been recorded since Sunday morning at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” and at airports across Greece, due to a serious technical issue affecting the radio communications of the Area Control Centers, which has led to the closure of the Athens FIR.

The problem has been identified in the central radio frequency systems used by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, making safe and regular communication between pilots and air traffic control impossible. Flights at Eleftherios Venizelos as well as at other airports nationwide were immediately affected, with aircraft grounded on the tarmac and departures and arrivals postponed.

Passengers who gathered early in the departure areas describe scenes of crowding, long waits, and uncertainty about the status of their flights, while authorities and technical teams are working intensively to restore the fault. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority is in contact with telecommunications partners to bring the system back online, though no official timeline for restoration has yet been announced.

The technical issue has already caused significant disruption for travelers, with flights unable to operate normally and some remaining stuck at their gates. Passengers are being advised to contact their airlines before heading to the airport to check for changes, while the relevant services continue to monitor the situation and seek the fastest possible solutions to restore FIR operations.