A Condor Boeing 757-300 traveling from Corfu, Greece to Düsseldorf, Germany was forced to make an emergency landing in Brindisi, Italy after its right-hand engine emitted loud bangs and flames shortly after takeoff. The incident occurred on August 16, with the aircraft carrying 273 passengers and eight crew members.
According to Flightradar24 data, the flight departed Corfu at 20:29 local time but had to stop its climb at 8,000 feet due to the engine issue. The plane landed safely in Brindisi at 20:02 local time. A spokesperson for Condor stated: "Condor dispatched a replacement aircraft [to] take passengers from Brindisi to Düsseldorf at approximately 10:30 [on Sunday]. We regret any inconvenience, but the safety of our passengers and employees is our top priority at all times."
The cause of the engine fire was attributed by Condor to airflow issues that triggered a chemical reaction. With nearly all seats occupied on this flight—Condor's Boeing 757-300 has a maximum capacity of 275—the airline faced logistical challenges in arranging overnight accommodation for everyone in Brindisi. Condor explained that "there wasn't enough hotel capacity available locally, so not all guests could be accommodated." As a result, some passengers spent the night on the airport floor with supply vouchers and blankets provided by the airline. Shops remained open during the night for stranded travelers.