Greece’s Defense Minister, Nikos Dendias, welcomed to the Ministry of National Defense the F-16 pilot who performed an emergency landing in Zakynthos last Friday (July 10), after the aircraft suffered a serious mechanical failure.
Dendias congratulates the pilot
Nikos Dendias, in a social media post, extended his congratulations to the pilot, notably stating that he “stands as a prime example of the high level of training, operational readiness, and dedication that distinguish Greek pilots.”
Nikos Dendias’ full statement
“Today I welcomed to the Ministry of National Defense the Commander of the 335th Squadron of the 115th Combat Wing, Wing Commander (Pilot) Georgios Hatzopoulos, in the presence of the Chiefs of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, and Tactical Air Force.
I extended my warmest congratulations for the exceptional professionalism, composure, and decisiveness he demonstrated, successfully landing the #F16 fighter jet he was piloting safely, despite the serious malfunction it sustained, at Zakynthos Airport.
Wing Commander (Pilot) Georgios Hatzopoulos stands as a prime example of the high level of training, operational readiness, and dedication that distinguish Greek pilots, while also highlighting the critical importance of the human factor within the Armed Forces.”
Υποδέχθηκα σήμερα στο Υπουργείο Εθνικής Άμυνας τον Διοικητή της 335 Μοίρας της 115 Πτέρυγας Μάχης, Αντισμήναρχο (Ι) Γεώργιο Χατζόπουλο, παρουσία των Αρχηγών ΓΕΕΘΑ, ΓΕΑ και Τακτικής Αεροπορίας.
Του εξέφρασα τα θερμά μου συγχαρητήρια για τον εξαιρετικό επαγγελματισμό, την… pic.twitter.com/UJxIcItdTm
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) July 13, 2026
The full timeline of the emergency landing
The Hellenic Air Force fighter jet had taken off from the 116th Combat Wing at Araxos and was participating in a military exercise when the malfunction occurred. The pilot was immediately ordered to dump fuel before diverting to the nearest available airport — Zakynthos, located directly across from Araxos. The nature of the malfunction appears to have prevented the aircraft’s landing gear from deploying. Although the runway was covered with foam in preparation for the emergency landing, the aircraft caught fire upon touchdown. As shown in video footage, the pilot managed to exit the aircraft in time, before the flames fully engulfed it, and is reported to be in good health. Emergency firefighting crews rushed to the scene to combat the blaze. According to available information, the aircraft is considered repairable.
