The head of Greece's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Giorgos Saounatsos, has resigned following a government-commissioned investigative report into last week's major radio communications outage at Greek airports.
The incident, which lasted approximately eight hours on January 4, 2026, led to a precautionary closure of Greek airspace. Air traffic controllers lost radio contact with most aircraft, resulting in widespread flight diversions, suspensions of arrivals and departures across the country, and significant disruptions for travelers.
The five-member investigative committee concluded that the outage stemmed partly from outdated voice communication systems and supporting telecommunications infrastructure. These systems, no longer supported by manufacturers, lack reliable operational guarantees. The report noted that Greek telecom provider OTE had warned the CAA back in 2019 about the need for new circuits and upgrades.
While the precise trigger—linked to multiple systems falling out of sync—remains unclear, investigators ruled out any cyberattack or external malicious interference. They classified the event as low risk to overall flight safety, praising the effective responses from both pilots and air traffic controllers.
Earlier reports indicated that Transport and Infrastructure Minister Christos Dimas had requested Saounatsos's resignation. The ministry confirmed that Giorgos Vagenas, currently deputy governor for air navigation at the CAA, will serve as interim administrator. Procedures to appoint a permanent replacement are underway immediately.
This resignation highlights ongoing concerns about aging aviation infrastructure in Greece, exposed dramatically by the January 4 blackout.
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