Condor Airlines flight spirals into panic as engine erupts in flames, passengers send farewell messages

A Condor Airlines flight was forced into an emergency landing in Italy after one of its engines erupted in flames at 36,000 feet.

This terrifying ordeal saw passengers sending what they thought were final messages to loved ones as they watched the fire through the plane windows in fear.

The Boeing 757 had taken off from Corfu, Greece, bound for Düsseldorf, Germany, with 273 passengers and eight crew members onboard when the drama unfolded on Saturday evening.

About 40 minutes into the flight, passengers began noticing bursts of fire flashing from the right wing of the aircraft.

“Suddenly, the power went out for a few seconds, and we realised we were no longer climbing,” one passenger said.

Another admitted they sent “goodbye texts” because they thought, “It’s over now.”

Social media footage appeared to show fire spitting intermittently from the jet’s engine. A TikTok user filming from the ground in Italy captured loud booms from the aircraft overhead.

“I was just chilling … then realised a plane was literally fighting fire in front of me,” the caption read.

The plane diverted to Brindisi Airport and touched down safely at 8.15pm local time. Emergency crews met the aircraft on the tarmac as shaken passengers disembarked. No injuries were reported.

Condor Airlines later said the issue was triggered by a disruption to the engine’s airflow supply, causing a parameter to read outside the normal range, the New York Post reported.

“Due to the fault message, it was precautionarily decided to divert to Brindisi,” the airline explained. It stressed that at no point were passengers “in danger.”

But for those on board, it hardly felt that way.

Once on the ground, the ordeal was far from over, as many of the passengers had nowhere to go with Brindisi’s hotel capacity already at capacity. Many of the passengers were left stranded at the airport overnight.

Condor admitted “not all guests could be accommodated in hotels” and said vouchers, blankets, and access to a handful of shops were provided.

“Passengers who took advantage of alternative accommodation options can submit their expenses for reimbursement,” the airline added.

Those who managed to secure a bed faced long waits for updates, while others stretched out across airport chairs, clutching their bags and replaying the night’s horror in their minds.

By the morning, another Condor aircraft arrived to complete the journey to Düsseldorf.

The incident is now under investigation, with the stricken jet undergoing a full technical inspection.

The airline reiterated its apology: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but the safety of our passengers and employees is always our top priority.”