Hellenic Air Force says Zakynthos F-16 can fly again

A recently upgraded Hellenic Air Force F-16 Viper that made a wheels-up emergency landing on Zakynthos in July can be repaired and returned to service, military officials have told Kathimerini.

The jet, from the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing at Araxos, suffered engine failure during a training flight on 9 July. The pilot brought it down at the island’s civilian airport with the undercarriage still retracted. The aircraft slid along the runway on its fuselage; friction sparks ignited leaking fuel and a fire broke out.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly. Officials say the aircraft’s critical electronics, radar and cockpit were not damaged. The fighter was later dismantled, shipped to the mainland by ferry, and is now being prepared for restoration.

The pilot was uninjured. Whether the cost of the rebuild will justify the operational gain remains an open question.

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