F-16 Skips Gear: Jet Crashes into Zakynthos Runway Amid Summer Rush

Mon Sep 14 2026 15:20:28 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Greek F‑16 accident at Zakynthos airport raises concerns over safety during peak tourist season.

A Hellenic Air Force F‑16 fighter jet crashed onto the runway at Zakynthos airport, stopping the island’s busiest holiday terminal. The aircraft departed from Araxos for a training flight and suffered a technical fault, leading to an on‑board fire. The pilot landed without deploying the landing gear, sliding the jet along the concrete and fire was extinguished by airport firefighters. All flights scheduled after the incident were delayed until nightfall, potentially impacting thousands of arriving tourists. The air force has yet to release a formal statement and the investigation is ongoing.

F-16 Skips Gear: Jet Crashes into Zakynthos Runway Amid Summer Rush

Greek F‑16 Fighter jet crash‑lands at Zakynthos airport, darkening the island’s busiest summer terminal.

The aircraft – part of the Hellenic Air Force’s 335 Squadron – took off from Araxos for a training flight before encountering a technical fault at about 13:45 local time. A fire signalled onboard, prompting the pilot to land without deploying the landing gear so the jet slid along the concrete, catching fire before emergency teams, aided by airport staff, extinguished the blaze.

The pilot emerged unharmed, and preliminary reports say the aircraft’s cause remains under investigation. Authorities have closed the runway, disrupting summer travel; all flights scheduled after the incident were delayed until 21:00. Visitors and airline staff are advised to keep updated through official channels.

Video footage posted on social media shows the jet ablaze, its flames reflected in the sea as flames spread across the runway, with firefighters dousing the wreckage. The incident comes just as thousands of tourists are set to arrive in the Ionian Sea, potentially impacting the local tourism economy.

Specialist teams have moved to remove the aircraft and resume airport operations. The Hellenic Air Force has yet to release a formal statement. Follow the story for updates on the investigation and potential alterations to the flight schedule.