Greek F-16 Fighter Jet Bursts Into Flames After Emergency Landing in Zakynthos; Pilot Unharmed (Watch Video)
A Hellenic Air Force F-16C made an emergency belly landing at Zakynthos International Airport today, July 9, following a technical failure. The pilot safely evacuated without injury. Airport fire crews quickly extinguished a fire caused by landing friction. Operations were briefly disrupted but have since resumed as an official investigation into the malfunction begins.
A Hellenic Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter jet made an emergency belly landing at Zakynthos International Airport (Dionysios Solomos) on Thursday afternoon, July 9, after experiencing an in-flight technical malfunction. The pilot, whose identity has not been released, exited the aircraft safely and remained uninjured following the incident. A video going viral on social media shows the Greek F-16 fighter jet bursting into flames right after touching down on the island of Zakynthos.
Emergency Landing and Fire
The F-16, assigned to the 116th Combat Wing based at Araxos Air Base, was conducting a standard training flight when it encountered an unspecified technical issue. The pilot diverted the aircraft to the island's commercial airport - often referred to by tourists as Zante - and performed a gear-up landing. Earthquakes in Greece: Over 200 Quakes Jolt ‘Instagram Island’ of Santorini; Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis Appeals for Calm (See Pics and Videos).
Hellenic Air Force F-16 Jet Catches Fire After Emergency Landing at Zakynthos Airport
A Hellenic Air Force F-16 caught fire after an emergency landing at Zakynthos airport https://t.co/RetumGadJD pic.twitter.com/eS3ADhX88j
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) July 9, 2026
As the aircraft skidded along the runway without its undercarriage deployed, friction ignited a fire beneath the fuselage. Airport firefighting crews, who had been placed on high alert in anticipation of the emergency arrival, intercepted the jet immediately upon touchdown. The quick response prevented the flames from reaching the fuel tanks or causing major structural damage to the aircraft.
Operational Impact of the Incident
The incident caused temporary disruptions to operations at Zakynthos International Airport. Incoming flights from carriers including British Airways, TUI, and easyJet were diverted to other airports such as Athens and Corfu, while several departing services faced delays. Runway operations resumed shortly after emergency teams cleared the site. Drunk EasyJet Passenger Forces London-Greece Flight To Make Emergency Landing, Attempts To Storm Cockpit, Open Exit, Hurl Abuses and More (Watch Video).
Official Investigation
The Hellenic Air Force has launched a formal investigation to determine the root cause of the landing gear failure and the subsequent fire. Lieutenant Colonel Konstantinos Gravalos, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Greek Air Force, confirmed the pilot is in "good health". Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage to the multi-million dollar aircraft [1.1.4, 1.1.5].
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 09, 2026 08:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
