Outdated Systems, Not Cyberattack, Caused Greek Flight Disruptions

ByUjjwal Sukhwani•January 14, 2026 at 01:34 AM•3 min read

Outdated Systems, Not Cyberattack, Caused Greek Flight Disruptions

Greek Infrastructure and Transport Ministry probe found that the Jan. 4 flight disruptions were caused by outdated aviation systems, not external interference.

Key Points

1Probe confirmed outdated systems caused the Jan. 4 radio frequency malfunction, ruling out a cyberattack.
2The incident was assessed as low-risk, with no direct threat to airborne aircraft noted by authorities.
3Report urges accelerated transition to Voice over IP (VoIP) communications and procurement of 500 new transceivers.
4The findings add urgency to Greece's €364 million action plan to modernize air traffic systems by 2028.

A government probe has confirmed outdated aviation systems caused a partial flight shutdown in Greece. The disruption occurred for several hours soon after New Year’s Day. The Infrastructure and Transport Ministry made the probe findings public on Tuesday.

Investigators ruled out external threats. The report found “no indications of cyber attack or external malicious interference.”

Probe Findings and Safety Assessment

The January 4 incident involved a widespread radio frequency malfunction. This affected the Athens and Macedonia regional control center. The issue was traced to the civil aviation authority’s voice communication system.

These crucial telecom systems rely on technology that is no longer supported. The manufacturer cannot offer effective guarantees for its operation. The report specifically faulted “digital noise” in the systems. This noise led to a loss of synchronization. It caused a critical number of beacons to malfunction.

Despite the operational failure, authorities assessed the incident as low-risk. They stated that no issue of aviation security risk was noted. Aircraft already airborne continued to operate normally. Departures were halted during the outage.

The Push for Voice over IP Technology

The expert committee’s report strongly recommended a swift modernization. It called for a speedy transition to Voice over IP technology (VoIP) in communications systems.

VoIP is a key technology in modern air traffic management (ATM). It is defined by the EUROCAE ED-137 standard. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has also adopted this standard. The migration of European ATM voice services to VoIP was forecast to be finalized by December 2020. This highlights the urgency of the Greek telecom systems upgrade.

Accelerated Modernization

The report recommends purchasing and installing a new voice and radio communication system. It also calls for nearly 500 new transceivers. This aligns with the Hellenic Aviation Service Provider's (HASP) ongoing efforts. HASP is moving forward with a major upgrade of its communications infrastructure.

Greece is already implementing a broader, multi-million euro action plan. This plan aims to modernize air traffic systems by 2028. The plan is designed to harmonize Greece with the highest European standards. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards guide these efforts.

The probe also urged creating a common immediate response mechanism. This mechanism would be between the civil aviation authority and telecoms providers. This will help reduce the risk of future disruptions. Aviation stakeholders, including major carriers like Emirates, rely on robust infrastructure. This ensures reliable global operations. For more on commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.