A Malta Air Boeing 737-800 on behalf of Ryanair, registration 9H-QDT performing flight FR-170 from Berlin Schoenefeld (Germany) to Athens (Greece) with 158 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL370 about 20nm south of Thessaloniki when a smoke detector activated. The crew declared emergency reporting smoke in the cockpit and diverted to Thessaloniki for a safe landing on runway 16 about 23 minutes later. The smoke indication was determined false.
The aircraft is still on the ground in Thessaloniki about 6.5 hours after landing.
A replacement Ryanair Boeing 737-800 registration EI-DPV reached Athens with a delay of 3.5 hours.