The head of Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has resigned following an investigation into a significant radio blackout that affected air traffic communications on January 4, 2026. The incident caused aircraft to be grounded as communication with aircraft in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) was severely impacted. The investigation concluded that the outage resulted from digital noise caused by desynchronization at the Athens Area Control Centre (KEPATHM), leading to unintentional transmitter activation and telecommunications disruption.
Experts identified that the outdated Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) systems used for voice and data communication contributed to the failure. The report recommended modernizing the infrastructure, including transitioning to Voice over IP (VoIP) technology and relocating control centers to more secure environments. Although authorities ruled out cyber attack as the cause, the incident highlighted the urgent need for system upgrades that had been previously advised.
Giorgos Saunatsos, the head of Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority, resigned on January 14, 2026, after the report’s publication. The Greek Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport confirmed his resignation, emphasizing that the government intends to accelerate efforts to modernize aeronautical communication systems to prevent similar outages in the future. The incident illustrated systemic vulnerabilities stemming from prolonged reliance on outdated technology, prompting calls for rapid improvements in Greece’s civil aviation infrastructure.
