On the evening of August 16, 2025, terror gripped the passengers of Condor Airlines Flight DE3665 as their Boeing 757-300, en route from Corfu, Greece to Düsseldorf, Germany, was forced to make an emergency landing in Brindisi, Italy. The reason? A dramatic and unexpected fire in the aircraft’s right engine, witnessed by hundreds onboard and even captured in videos that have since ricocheted across social media.
The flight, carrying 273 passengers and eight crew members—281 people in total—had departed Corfu with little indication of trouble. About 40 minutes into the journey, as the plane cruised at 36,000 feet, passengers were jolted by a series of loud explosions. Flames erupted from the right wing, visible from both the cabin windows and the ground below, according to reports from OneIndia and BILD.
“Suddenly, we heard a loud noise, then flames shot out of the engine. It was very scary,” one passenger told BILD. Another recalled, “Suddenly, the power went out for a few seconds, and we realised we were no longer climbing.” The fear was palpable; several passengers began sending what they believed could be their final messages to loved ones, with one admitting, “I sent goodbye messages thinking it was over. It was a horrible experience.”
As flames continued to leap from the engine, the pilots performed a dramatic U-turn, opting for the nearest safe haven—Brindisi Airport in southern Italy. Emergency crews were rushed to the scene, and the runway was temporarily closed to accommodate the emergency landing. Against all odds, the aircraft touched down safely at around 8:15 p.m., and all 281 people on board disembarked without injury, according to statements provided to LADbible and The Mirror.
The relief among passengers was immense, but the ordeal was far from over. Due to limited hotel capacity in Brindisi, many were forced to spend the night on the airport floor. Condor Airlines stepped in to provide vouchers, blankets, and access to airport shops for those stranded. Passengers who managed to find alternative accommodation were told they could submit expenses for reimbursement. The following morning, a replacement aircraft was dispatched to complete the journey to Düsseldorf.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion about aviation safety, particularly regarding Boeing’s aging 757 model, which has been in service since the early 1980s. The specific aircraft involved, registered as D-ABOK, is currently undergoing a thorough technical inspection to determine the precise cause of the engine failure.
So, what exactly went wrong? While initial speculation centered on a possible bird strike, Condor Airlines released an official statement attributing the fire to a disturbance in the air flow supply to the engine, which caused a chemical reaction within the combustion chamber. “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,” a spokesperson told LADbible. Condor was quick to emphasize, “This posed no danger to the guests or crew members at any time. The aircraft landed around 8:15 p.m. at Brindisi Airport, and all 273 guests as well as the eight crew members disembarked the aircraft normally.”
Despite reassurances, the psychological impact on those aboard was profound. Passengers described the event as “terrifying,” and the memory of the recent fatal Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash only heightened anxieties. The incident also drew attention to a string of recent aviation scares involving Boeing aircraft, including a Delta 767 emergency landing in Los Angeles and an American Airlines 737 Max fire in Denver. According to OneIndia, aviation experts warn that “Boeing’s repeated safety lapses may erode public trust worldwide.”
Video footage of the Condor flight’s engine spewing flames quickly circulated on social media, intensifying public scrutiny. The images showed a spluttering blaze visible from the ground, with the aircraft making a sharp turn back towards Italy. For those on board, the ordeal was made worse by the uncertainty upon landing—many had to seek out their own places to sleep, or else make do with what the airport could offer. “Unfortunately, there was insufficient hotel capacity in Brindisi, meaning that not all guests could be accommodated in hotels. Additional vouchers and blankets were organised at the airport, and a few shops were allowed to remain open to provide supplies,” Condor explained in a statement to The Mirror.
In the aftermath, the airline issued an apology for the inconvenience and reiterated its commitment to passenger safety. “We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but the safety of our passengers and employees is always our top priority,” the spokesperson added.
While no one was physically harmed, the incident has reignited debate about the reliability of older aircraft and the adequacy of maintenance regimes. The Boeing 757, first introduced in the early 1980s, is a workhorse of commercial aviation but has seen its reputation tested by high-profile incidents in recent years. The Condor emergency landing adds to a growing list of safety scares that have placed Boeing under intense global scrutiny.
Experts are now calling for a closer examination of aging aircraft fleets and more rigorous oversight of engine maintenance and safety protocols. The fact that the Condor 757’s engine fire was attributed to a “disturbance in air flow” rather than a catastrophic mechanical failure may offer some reassurance, but it also raises questions about what preventive measures could be taken to avoid such incidents in the future.
For the passengers of Flight DE3665, the memory of flames licking the wing at 36,000 feet will not soon fade. Their ordeal is a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of air travel and the importance of stringent safety standards. As the aviation industry faces renewed calls for accountability and transparency, Condor Airlines and Boeing both find themselves under the microscope.
The technical investigation into the exact cause of the engine failure is ongoing, and the results will likely be closely watched by regulators, airlines, and the flying public alike. In the meantime, Condor’s swift response and the professionalism of its crew have been credited with averting tragedy. Still, as one shaken passenger put it, “It was a horrible experience.”
For now, the skies remain open, but the echoes of Flight DE3665’s emergency landing will linger as a cautionary tale for airlines and travelers everywhere.
