Greece closes its airspace over mysterious ‘unspecified issue’
Flights have been suspended across Greece after unspecified issues affecting radio frequencies.
Airports grounded their planes after the technical problem at the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), local Kathimerini newspaper reports.
Flight trackers showed Greek airspace largely empty after arrivals and departures were halted.
Greek airspace was reportedly first shut down from 9am local time (7am in the UK).
The problem appears to be linked to radio frequency systems at Athens and Macedonia Area Control Centres.
Radio frequencies have gone out of operation at a centre which all aircraft entering Greek airspace have to communicate with, Kathimerini reports.
Athens’s Eleftherios Venizelos airport has become crowded with travellers unable to board.
Flights have been diverted to neighbouring countries, according to state broadcaster ERT.
Authorities said they were investigating the cause of the issue.
The Israel Airports Authority has warned holidaymakers that the shutdown of its airspace is expected to last until at least 4pm local time.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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