A terrifying incident unfolded aboard a Condor Airlines flight when a Boeing 757 was forced to make an emergency landing after flames erupted from one of its engines just shortly after takeoff.
The plane, carrying 273 passengers and eight crew members, had departed from Corfu, Greece, heading to Düsseldorf, Germany, when it experienced a serious malfunction at 36,000 feet, per WDR.
The crisis began when flames suddenly burst from the right engine, startling passengers.
One passenger described the horrifying moment to Bild, saying: “Suddenly, the power went out for a few seconds, and we realized we were no longer climbing.”
As the plane shook and flames sputtered from the engine, many passengers feared for their lives.
One particularly terrified individual even sent out "goodbye texts" to loved ones, thinking the situation was beyond saving.
“It was an incredibly horrible experience. I already sent goodbye texts because I thought, ‘It’s over now,’” another passenger recounted.
A video shot by a fellow passenger captured the disturbing sight of flames erupting from the engine as the plane began its descent.
In one TikTok video taken by an eyewitness on the ground, the aircraft can be seen making a descent with intermittent flashes of flame coming from its engine, accompanied by loud booms.
"I was just chilling… then realized a plane was literally fighting fire in front of me," the passerby captioned the video, which quickly went viral.
According to Condor Airlines, the malfunction was caused by a disturbance in the airflow supply to the engine, resulting in a chemical reaction inside the combustion chamber.
Despite the dramatic scene, the airline assured that no one was ever in danger.
A spokesperson explained, per the New York Post: "The reason was a parameter indication outside the normal range caused by a disturbance in the air flow supply to the engine.
"Due to the fault message, it was precautionarily decided to divert to Brindisi."
The airline stressed that the engine was not on fire, only experiencing a temporary malfunction.
"A chemical reaction at the back of the engine led to the flames, but the engine itself was never on fire," a Condor representative clarified.
The flight made an emergency landing at Brindisi Airport in southern Italy just 40 minutes after taking off, at 8:15PM local time, which was a relief to the anxious passengers on board, per FlightRadar24.
The airline confirmed that all guests disembarked the plane safely.
After landing, however, the situation wasn't without its complications.
Due to limited hotel capacity in Brindisi, not all passengers were able to secure accommodations.
The airline offered vouchers and blankets at the airport, and a few shops remained open to provide supplies.
Condor also assured that passengers who sought alternative accommodation could submit their expenses for reimbursement.
The following morning, passengers were transferred to another Condor aircraft to continue their journey to Düsseldorf.