Greece has flight operations after a serious technical breakdown resumed. “The air traffic controllers are using alternative frequencies and can now handle the first flights again,” said the President of the Association of Air Traffic Controllers, Panagiotis Psarros, the Greek TV channel ERTNews. He cannot say when air traffic will return to normal.

Previously it was Air traffic over Greece has come to a complete standstill. At times the air traffic controllers were unable to communicate with each other or with the pilots. Psarros ruled out a cyber attack. Rather, he criticized the state of the communication systems: “Our systems are ancient,” he said. The air traffic controllers’ union has already pointed this out several times.

The glitch had repercussions far beyond Greece out. Flightradar24, an online service for real-time flight tracking, showed almost empty Greek airspace while planes massed over surrounding countries. Numerous machines had to be rerouted.