Alpha News

Athens FIR Report: Digital Noise Caused Blackout at Airports

Published January 13, 2026, 18:13

The Athens FIR report regarding the blackout at Greek airports attributes the problem to “digital noise” caused by the desynchronization of multiple transmitters simultaneously. This resulted in the degradation or interruption of critical telecommunications links. The committee points out that the existing voice communication system of the UCAA is based on outdated technology that is no longer supported by the manufacturer. The incident was classified as low risk (Green Area) and no evidence of cyberattack or external malicious intervention was found. However, the committee recommends accelerating the transition to VoIP technology and establishing a permanent joint UCAA-OTE rapid response mechanism with standardized crisis procedures. The report states that for flight safety reasons, a complete capacity restriction was imposed and emergency procedures were implemented. The restoration of services was gradual and completed at 16:53. Overall, the report highlights the need to upgrade the UCAA's telecommunications infrastructure and adopt modern technologies to avoid similar problems in the future.