A Greek Air Force F-16 fighter jet that crash-landed at Zakynthos Airport last week was transported by ferry from the island early Wednesday after being removed from the airport’s runway. The aircraft is expected to be returned to its home base at Araxos Air Base in western Greece.
The aircraft was loaded onto the Kefalonia, a vessel operated by Levante Ferries, at the port of Zakynthos shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to local reports.
A large technical team arrived on the island on Thursday, shortly after the incident, and removed the damaged aircraft from the runway in an operation that lasted several hours. The jet was later dismantled, with its wings removed, before being transported from the airport to the port under police and coast guard escort, accompanied by senior Greek Air Force officials, local authorities and civil protection personnel.
The aircraft, assigned to the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing based at Araxos Air Base in western Greece, was conducting a training flight when the incident occurred. Initial assessments suggest the F-16 may have suffered a malfunction involving its landing gear.
The pilot was not injured.
