Athens FIR Blackout Attributed to Major Telecom Failure
The blackout that disrupted operations in the Athens FIR stemmed from an extensive telecommunications system malfunction, according to Michalis Bletsas, head of the National Cybersecurity Authority and researcher at the MIT Media Lab.
The incident did not result from interference or hostile activity, based on Bletsas assessment that the malfunction originated within the system itself.
Many transmitters remained active during the outage, with some emitting only noise while others offered no sound at all.
These faulty transmissions consumed vital frequencies, creating a complete denial of service across the spectrum.
Backup System Failed Due to Blocked Spectrum
The backup network could not activate because the frequencies were already fully occupied by malfunctioning transmitters.
No parallel spectrum was available to relieve the overloaded system, preventing any fallback communication channel from being established.
Passenger disruption followed as flights were cancelled, though no safety threat emerged for aircraft in the airspace.
No Evidence of Sabotage or External Interference
The National Cybersecurity Authority emphasized that no external intervention contributed to the blackout.
The investigation so far shows no indication of foreign involvement or deliberate tampering with the system.
More data continues to be collected by cybersecurity teams as they analyze the sequence of failures.
Possible Human Error and Broader Context
Human error or a technical oversight may have triggered the malfunction, according to preliminary assessments shared by Bletsas.
Rapid coordination among multiple agencies led to the creation of a new investigative committee for greater efficiency.
Similar incidents have occurred in major FIRs internationally, demonstrating that even advanced systems remain vulnerable to breakdowns.
Complex technological environments inevitably encounter failures, underscoring the importance of resilience and minimal impact during disruptions.
