A Condor Airlines flight traveling from Corfu, Greece, to Düsseldorf, Germany, was forced to make an emergency landing in Italy on August 16 after one of its engines caught fire shortly after takeoff, according to reports. The Boeing 757 aircraft, operating as Flight DE 3665, had been scheduled to land in Düsseldorf at 9:35 p.m. local time before the unexpected diversion.
Engine Fire Reported in Boeing 757 Mid-Flight
The incident unfolded when the plane had reached an altitude of 36,000 feet. Crew members reportedly detected abnormalities in the right turbine and its airflow. About 40 minutes after departure, the flight – carrying 273 passengers and eight crew members – was diverted to Brindisi Airport in southern Italy, where it landed safely. No injuries were reported among those on board.
Yesterday, Condor flight #DE3665, a Boeing 757-300 (D-ABOK) from Corfu to Düsseldorf, suffered engine surges shortly after takeoff with flames and loud bangs reported from the right engine.
The crew shut it down, declared an emergency, and safely diverted to Brindisi, Italy,… pic.twitter.com/5spEYF8uKf— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) August 17, 2025
A video claiming to show flames shooting from the aircraft’s engine circulated widely on TikTok, though its authenticity has not been confirmed.
Condor Airways Issues Statement
Condor Airways later confirmed the diversion in a statement.
“We apologize for any inconvenience, but passenger safety is our top priority at any given time,” the airline said.
The carrier added that a “disturbance in the air flow supply to the engine” had likely triggered the incident. The aircraft is currently undergoing a detailed technical inspection.
To assist stranded travelers, Condor dispatched another aircraft to Brindisi to continue the journey. “Another Condor aircraft was dispatched to carry all guests to Düsseldorf on August 17, 2025,” the airline stated.
Passengers On Boeing 757 Describe Moments of Panic
Some passengers shared harrowing accounts of the ordeal with Frankfurter Rundschau. One passenger recalled how panic set in after a sudden power outage on board. “I noticed the aircraft was no longer gaining height, and I panicked,” they said.
Another described the fear of imminent disaster. “I’ve already sent goodbye texts because I thought, ‘It’s over now,’” the passenger recounted.
A Condor Boeing 757 (D-ABOK) carrying 273 people burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Corfu. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Brindisi, Italy.#Breaking #Aviation #Condor #Corfu #Brindisi pic.twitter.com/nn2AYxsQ5v
— War Reporter (@tangentsofwar) August 18, 2025
Despite the fright, the emergency landing was carried out successfully, allowing all 281 people on board to continue their journey safely the following day.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
