Fighter jet crashes and bursts into flames after emergency landing at Greek holiday island airport

By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 12:29, 9 July 2026 | Updated: 12:50, 9 July 2026 A military aircraft caught fire in mid-air before making an emergency landing at a Greek holiday island airport. The plane touched down at Zakynthos International Airport with flames still visible before the fire spread on the runway, according to local reports. Footage shows the aircraft on the tarmac engulfed in flames as emergency crews douse it with jets of water. The pilot landed safely and was unhurt, according to reports. The runway remains occupied by the stricken aircraft, disrupting operations at the airport, with flights reportedly cancelled or delayed. A military aircraft caught fire in mid-air before making an emergency landing at a Greek holiday island airport Footage shows the aircraft on the tarmac engulfed in flames as emergency crews douse it with jets of water The cause of the emergency landing and subsequent fire has not yet been confirmed. Authorities are assessing the damage to the aircraft, which may have experienced a problem with the landing gear. The jet belongs to the 116th Combat Wing and had taken off from the Araxos Air Base, in northwestern Peloponnese.  This is a breaking news story, more to follow.