Damaged Greek Air Force F-16 Returns From Zakynthos Amid Probe

The damaged aircraft departed Zakynthos aboard the Levante Ferries vessel Kefalonia shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday, bound for Araxos Air Base where investigators will conduct a detailed analysis of what caused the landing gear failure.

A specialized technical team from the Hellenic Air Force arrived on the island immediately following the emergency landing and spent several hours extracting the fighter from the airport runway. Engineers subsequently disassembled the aircraft by removing its wings to facilitate road transport from the airport to the port, which proceeded under full police and coast guard escort.

Senior Hellenic Air Force officers coordinated the operation alongside local authorities and civil protection personnel.

Landing Gear Malfunction Forces Emergency Procedure

The F-16, assigned to the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing stationed at Araxos Air Base in western Greece, was executing a routine training mission when it encountered what preliminary assessments indicate was a landing gear malfunction.

Unable to deploy its landing gear, the pilot was forced to land the aircraft on its fuselage. The fighter skidded along the runway for dozens of metres, with friction from the belly landing igniting a fire that airport firefighting teams rapidly extinguished.

The pilot evacuated the aircraft safely and sustained no injuries.

Investigation Underway Into F-16 Technical Reliability

Authorities have initiated an official investigation to establish the precise cause of the malfunction and determine whether technical or mechanical deficiencies contributed to the emergency landing.

The incident raises questions about the operational readiness of the Hellenic Air Force following the event and what the investigation may reveal regarding the technical reliability of Greece’s F-16 fleet.

The aircraft will now undergo exhaustive examination at Araxos Air Base as the investigation proceeds.

With information from Greek City Times