Greek Air Force F-16C from 335 Squadron Makes Emergency Belly Landing at Zakynthos Airport
A Greek Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing made an emergency belly landing at Zakynthos International Airport on July 9 after experiencing a technical malfunction during a training flight over the Ionian Sea.
According to reports, the pilot received an in-flight fire warning and diverted to the nearest available airport. The aircraft landed without deploying its landing gear, sliding along the runway before flames were seen beneath the fuselage.
The pilot remained in control throughout the emergency landing, safely brought the aircraft to a stop, and exited the cockpit without ejecting. He was reported unharmed.
Airport rescue and firefighting teams responded immediately, using firefighting foam to extinguish the flames and secure the aircraft.
Zakynthos International Airport, which operates with a single runway, temporarily suspended flight operations while emergency crews cleared the runway. The closure caused delays and diversions for several commercial flights during Greece’s peak summer travel season.
Greek authorities have opened an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the reported technical malfunction.
