ATHENS – The Hellenic Air Force is expected to return the F-16 fighter jet involved in last week’s emergency belly landing at Zakynthos International Airport to operational service after it was confirmed the aircraft is repairable.
The incident initially sparked concern among defence observers amid uncertainty over whether the damaged aircraft was one of Greece’s recently upgraded F-16V (Block 72 Viper) fighters. However, it has since been confirmed that the jet was a Block 52+ aircraft assigned to 337 Mira, based at Larissa Air Base.
According to defence sources, the aircraft had already been scheduled to undergo the Hellenic Air Force’s Viper modernisation programme at Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) in 2027. The damage sustained during the emergency landing is now expected to be repaired as part of that planned upgrade.
The F-16 was forced to perform a wheels-up landing after reportedly experiencing a landing gear malfunction while approaching Zakynthos Airport. The aircraft slid along the runway before catching fire, with emergency crews quickly extinguishing the blaze. The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft without serious injury.
Initial assessments indicate the aircraft avoided catastrophic structural damage during the belly landing. Defence analysts say the presence of the centreline fuel tank pylon, together with the inboard and outboard wing pylons, helped protect the aircraft’s underside by absorbing much of the impact as it slid along the runway.
Although the post-landing fire damaged several systems and components, the affected parts are expected to be repaired or replaced during the aircraft’s scheduled modernisation.
The confirmation that the damaged aircraft was a Block 52+, rather than one of Greece’s newest Block 72 Viper fighters, has been met with relief in defence circles. Greece is currently upgrading 83 F-16 Block 52+ and Advanced aircraft to the F-16V configuration as part of a major fleet modernisation programme, significantly enhancing the Hellenic Air Force’s combat capabilities.
The incident remains under investigation as the Hellenic Air Force works to determine the cause of the landing gear failure.
Source: Papakia Mantola / Defence sources