An unprecedented malfunction that knocked out the Athens FIR on Sunday, causing significant disruption of European aviation when combined with snowstorms in western Europe, reportedly emanates from the country’s telecoms system, according to tanea.gr.

The mystery surrounding the Athens FIR’s crash has initially been attributed to frequency interference, but also to ground-to-ground communications, including telephone and data lines, according to an announcement by Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority.

The same agency referred to a “mass intervention in practically all frequencies that serve the Athens FIR”, along with the “crash” of the Hellas Com lines.

CAA said the “noise” observed on the frequencies took the form of a continuous, involuntary transmission.

According to tanea.gr, three different – and independent of each other – systems malfunctioned, leading to the conclusion that total blackout was not the result of CAA’s network, but in the telecommunications networks. It is also noteworthy that the problem was not resolved by the civil aviation authority. What happened is that at some point on Sunday afternoon, the electronic “noise” that was blocking all systems ceased. It is worth noting that, according to reports, a similar issue arose last year but was very limited in scope.

An urgent investigation was ordered by the relevant deputy transport minister.