NEED TO KNOW
- On Saturday, Aug. 16, Flight DE 3665 from Corfu was forced to divert from Germany to Italy due to a “parameter reading outside the normal range,” according to Condor Airlines.
- Videos circulating on social media appeared to show that the right engine of the Boeing 757 burst into flames at around 36,000 feet.
- “We regret any inconvenience, but the safety of our passengers and employees is our top priority at all times,” the airline said in a statement
A Condor Airlines flight was forced to quickly divert after the plane’s engine appeared to erupt into flames shortly after takeoff.
On Saturday, Aug. 16, Flight DE 3665 departed from Corfu with an expectation to land in Düsseldorf, Germany, at 9:35 p.m. local time, German news outlets Die Welt and Bild reported. However, the crew onboard the Boeing 757 noticed a disruption in the airflow of the right turbine as the plane reached an altitude of around 36,000 feet, per WDR.
An unverified video shared on TikTok appears to show flames flashing from the area of the right engine in intervals as a loud sound booms from the passenger jet.
The Condor flight made an emergency landing at Brindisi Airport in southern Italy after being in the air for around 40 minutes, according to Die Welt and Frankfurter Rundschau.
All 273 passengers and 8 crew members were uninjured when the plane landed in Brindisi at 8:15 p.m. local time, per the outlets.
Reflecting on the flight, one passenger said, “Suddenly, the power went out for a few seconds, and we realized we were no longer climbing,” per Frankfurter Rundschau.
“It was an incredibly horrible experience. I’ve already sent goodbye texts because I thought, ‘It’s over now,’ ” another passenger said, according to the outlet.
The aircraft is currently undergoing a technical inspection, Bild reported.
A Condor Airlines spokesperson told PEOPLE that there was “no danger” to passengers at any time and they could not confirm that there was a fire in the plane’s engine.
They stated that a chemical reaction that typically happens in the engine’s combustion chamber happened near the engine and was visible at the rear of the plane.
“Flight DE3665 from Corfu (CFU) to Düsseldorf (DUS) diverted to Brindisi (BDS) on 16 August 2025. The reason was a parameter indication outside the normal range caused by a disturbance in the air flow supply to the engine,” Condor Airlines said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“Due to the fault message, it was precautionarily decided to divert to Brindisi. The aircraft landed around 8:15 p.m. at Brindisi Airport, and all guests disembarked the aircraft normally. Another Condor aircraft was dispatched to carry all guests to Düsseldorf on August 17th, 2025,” the statement continued.
“Unfortunately, there was insufficient hotel capacity in Brindisi, meaning that not all guests could be accommodated in hotels,” the airline added. “Additional vouchers and blankets were organized at the airport, and a few shops were allowed to remain open to provide supplies. Passengers who took advantage of alternative accommodation options can submit their expenses for reimbursement.”
“We apologize for any inconvenience caused, but the safety of our passengers and employees is always our top priority,” Condor Airlines concluded.
A rep for Brindisi Airport had no comment when reached by PEOPLE on Monday, Aug. 18.
Credits: Condor Airline
