Military activity in Cyprus airspace

Military activity in Cyprus airspace has escalated following a request for Greek military support by President Nikos Christodoulides, prompted by an Iranian drone incident at the Akrotiri British Sovereign Base Area. Greece deployed F-16 fighter jets to the Andreas Papandreou air base in Paphos, while Turkey deployed F-16s operating from Ercan Airport.

The increased presence of Greek and Turkish aircraft has led to significant safety concerns. The Cyprus Air Traffic Controllers Union reported that unauthorized Turkish military aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are frequently present in critical flight paths near Larnaca and Paphos airports.

In one specific incident, a Turkish military aircraft failed to respond to communications from the Nicosia Air Traffic Control Centre and deviated from its flight plan, nearly causing a mid-air collision with a descending Boeing 737-800. The Union characterized the ongoing incursions as a persistent issue occurring “24 hours a day, seven days a week, for decades,” citing a “complete indifference to passenger safety” due to the refusal to maintain two-way communication with controllers.