Passengers on a Condor Boeing 757 flight from Corfu to Düsseldorf faced a terrifying ordeal when flames burst from one of the plane’s engines shortly after takeoff on Saturday evening. The aircraft had already climbed to 36,000 feet when a disruption to the turbine airflow triggered the blaze, according to German broadcaster WDR.

The jet was diverted to Brindisi, Italy, where it landed safely just 40 minutes after departure. Eyewitness footage captured from the ground shows flames shooting from the engine as the aircraft descended, with loud booms audible during its approach.

For many on board, the situation felt life-threatening. “Suddenly, the power went out for a few seconds, and we realised we were no longer climbing,” one passenger told Bild. Another described the harrowing moment: “It was an incredibly horrible experience. I already sent goodbye texts because I thought, ‘It’s over now.’”

Airline response and passenger fallout

Condor later clarified that the flames were the result of a reaction at the back of the engine, not an actual engine fire. “The reason was a parameter indication outside the normal range caused by a disturbance in the air flow supply to the engine,” a spokesperson told The Sun. They stressed that at no point were passengers or crew in real danger, though the diversion was ordered out of precaution.

After landing in Brindisi, passengers faced another challenge: accommodation. Due to limited hotel capacity in the area, not all travelers were provided with rooms for the night. Condor said that vouchers, blankets, and access to some airport shops were arranged as temporary relief. Travelers who paid for their own lodging were told they could seek reimbursement.

Another aircraft was sent the following day to complete the journey to Düsseldorf. Meanwhile, the Boeing 757 involved is undergoing a technical inspection.