Flights to and from Iraklio Airport on Crete have been suspended after protesting farmers breached airport grounds and entered the runway, forcing authorities to shut down operations.

An airport official told Reuters that all flights were halted at 2 p.m., and the facility will remain closed until further notice. Another official said that protesters had crossed into the flight corridors.

Local outlet neakriti.gr reported that at least two incoming flights – one from Athens and another from Rhodes – were forced to return to their departure airports after being unable to land.

Unrest was also reported at Hania Airport, where farmers managed to block the main entrance at approximately 2.30 p.m. The closure prevented travelers, visitors, and tourists from entering or exiting, except in cases involving medical needs.

In an effort to stop protesters from approaching the airport, police deployed tear gas. Demonstrators responded by throwing stones and later overturning a police vehicle. According to state broadcaster ERT, one police officer was injured during the clashes. The situation remained volatile into the afternoon.

Farmers said their initial plan was to block the airport’s main gate from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. as part of their ongoing demonstrations. However, they claimed that police intervention prompted them to escalate their actions, ultimately cutting off access to the airport entirely.

Source: Ekathimerini.com