NewsWorld newsNatoA Greek Air Force F-16 fighter jet made an emergency landing at Zakynthos Airport after an in-flight fire warning during a training mission over the Ionian Sea12:36, 09 Jul 2026Updated 13:36, 09 Jul 2026A NATO fighter jet burst into flames while making an emergency landing at a Greek airport, officials have said.‌The F-16 landed at Zakynthos (Zante) Airport after an in-flight fire indication during a training mission on Thursday afternoon.‌State broadcaster ERT reported the pilot escaped unharmed and was in good health following the emergency landing.‌Initial information from the Air Force General Staff said the F-16, belonging to the 116th Fighter Wing at Araxos, was carrying out a training mission over the wider Ionian Sea region when it diverted to the airport.Local media reported the runway has been closed while emergency services deal with the incident.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌Firefighters are at the scene, while flights have been cancelled, local outlet Ermis News reported.The Air Force is investigating the cause of the incident.Local news outlet ekathimerini.com reports that the plane may have experienced a problem with the landing gear.‌The 116th Fighter Wing of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force were outfitted with the F-16 fighter aircraft in 2007. The Wing is based at Araxos Air Base located in northwestern Achaea, Greece, roughly 29 km southwest of Patras.Greece has an active inventory of approximately 150 F-16 Fighting Falcons in the Hellenic Air Force. The overall fleet is composed of a mix of models acquired over several decades.Some F-16s still in use were acquired in the late 1980s and 1990s whereas the 116th Fighter Wing flys the newer block-52 + ADV models of aircraft.Article continues belowZakynthos Airport opened in 1972 and welcomes more than two million passengers every year - many of whom are Brits heading to the Zante party resort.British Airways, Ryanair, Jet2 and easyJet are among the airlines that operate flights to the airport.Brits are the most common nationality that passes through the airport - with more than 720,000 British passengers in 2024.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌NatoGreeceBreaking News