A Boeing passenger jet operated by Condor Airways made a dramatic emergency landing in Brindisi, Italy on Saturday, August 16th, after one of its engines started a fire shortly after takeoff from Corfu, Greece.
The DE3665 flight carrying 273 passengers and eight crew bound by Dusseldorf, Germany, experienced a horrifying incident 1,500 feet above Corfu’s port.
Witnesses on the ground reported that they heard “an explosion-like deafening sound” as a burst of orange light sparked from the jet’s right engine. The video footage was shot for a few seconds before suddenly stopping. The pilot first returned the aircraft towards Corfu airport, which was placed in a red warning, but determined that the plane could continue to fly with a single engine. Due to an engine malfunction, the flight detoured to Brindisi where it landed safely at an altitude of 8,000 feet.
Condor Airways issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience, emphasizing that “passenger safety is always a top priority.” All passengers and crew were housed in the hotel overnight and were expected to resume their journey to Dusseldorf on Sunday.
Aviation authorities are investigating the incident to determine and confirm the cause. Passenger safety is paramount.
