Sun Jan 04 17:49:03 UTC 2026: Here’s a news article summarizing the text, written in a journalistic style:

Greek Airspace Crippled by Radio Frequency Failure, Flights Grounded

Athens, Greece – January 4, 2026 – Thousands of travelers were left stranded across Greece today as a sudden collapse of radio frequencies brought air traffic to a standstill. Arrivals and departures at all Greek airports were suspended following the widespread disruption, which began early Sunday morning.

The cause of the radio frequency failure remains unclear, but authorities confirmed that communication with aircraft was impossible, forcing the grounding of flights for safety reasons. While some overflights across Greek and regional airspace are being serviced, significant restrictions remain.

“For some reason all frequencies were suddenly lost… We could not communicate with aircraft in the sky,” explained Panagiotis Psarros, chair of the Association of Greek Air Traffic Controllers, speaking to state broadcaster ERT. He attributed the problem to a failure of central radio frequency systems at the Athens and Macedonia area control systems, the largest air control facility in the country.

Flight trackers showed Greek airspace largely devoid of air traffic following the emergency. Passengers at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos airport reported crowded terminals as they awaited updates on their flights.

Psarros also raised concerns about outdated equipment. “Certainly the equipment we have is virtually ancient. We have raised this many times in the past,” he said.

A Transport Ministry official reported that some aircraft heading north and east had been allowed to depart, while more than 75 flights have been delayed. Authorities in Israel also confirmed the closure of Greek airspace, advising travelers to anticipate delays in arrivals and departures.

The Greek civil aviation authority continues to investigate the cause of the disruption and has yet to provide a timeline for the resumption of normal flight operations. The closure of Greek airspace is expected to have a ripple effect on international travel, impacting flights throughout the region.

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