A Boeing passenger jet operated by Condor Airways made a dramatic emergency landing in Brindisi, Italy, on Saturday, August 16, after one of its engines caught fire shortly after takeoff from Corfu, Greece.
The DE3665 flight, carrying 273 passengers and eight crew members bound for Dusseldorf, Germany, experienced the terrifying incident at 1,500 feet above Corfu’s port.
Eyewitnesses on the ground reported hearing a “deafening sound, like an explosion,” as orange bursts of light sparked from the jet’s right engine. Video footage captured the flames flickering for several seconds before abruptly stopping. The pilots veered the aircraft back toward Corfu Airport initially, which was placed on red alert, but they determined the plane could continue flying on a single engine. Due to the engine malfunction, the flight was diverted to Brindisi, where it safely landed at an altitude of 8,000 feet.
Condor Airways issued a statement apologising for the inconvenience, emphasising that “passenger safety is our top priority all the time.” All passengers and crew were accommodated in a hotel overnight and were expected to resume their journey to Dusseldorf on Sunday.
Aviation authorities are investigating the incident to determine the cause and make sure passenger safety is paramount moving forward.
