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Hellenic F-16 Skids, Sparks Fire; Runway Closed, Flights Diverted

7/10/2026

50 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Landing gear failure caused the fighter jet to skid across the runway and ignite a fire.
A Hellenic Air Force F-16 landed emergency at Zakynthos Airport, with the pilot unharmed.
The runway closure diverted inbound flights to other Greek airports.
The jet, from the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing at Araxos Air Base, is under investigation as a specialist team prepares removal.

History

Historical Context

In the 2003 Iraq invasion, United States Air Force F-16s flew thousands of sorties, and the only combat loss recorded was an F-16CG of the 388th Fighter Wing that crashed near Baghdad on 12 June 2003. Greek F-16s have also faced accidents, notably the 1996 Aegean shoot-down and the 2006 mid-air collision, highlighting ongoing concerns about F-16 operational safety.

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Story summary

Landing gear failure caused the fighter jet to skid across the runway and ignite a fire.
A Hellenic Air Force F-16 landed emergency at Zakynthos Airport, with the pilot unharmed.
The runway closure diverted inbound flights to other Greek airports.
The jet, from the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing at Araxos Air Base, is under investigation as a specialist team prepares removal.

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