THIS is the terrifying moment when a Boeing plane’s engine burst into flames mid-air, forcing the jet to make an emergency landing.
The experience was so frightening for those on board that one passenger even sent goodbye texts to their loved ones.
XThe flight touched down at an Italian airport just 40 minutes after takeoff[/caption]
Terrified passengers have shared their experiences of the heart-stopping momentX
XIt had been due to fly to Düsseldorf before the emergency[/caption]
A video taken on one passenger’s phone caught the horrifying incident as flames sputter out of the Condor plane’s engine.
It happened shortly after takeoff from the popular holiday island of Corfu.
The flight had already reached an altitude of 36,000ft when the plane experienced a disruption to the turbine airflow, according to WDR.
It had been on course to fly to Düsseldorf, but the burst of flames forced the pilots to make an emergency landing at Brindisi in Italy.
The flight touched down at the Italian airport just 40 minutes after takeoff on Saturday evening.
Terrified passengers have shared their experiences of the heart-stopping moment when fire erupted from the engines.
One person on board told Bild: “Suddenly, the power went out for a few seconds, and we realised we were no longer climbing.”
Another said: “It was an incredibly horrible experience. I already sent goodbye texts because I thought, ‘It’s over now’.”
In one TikTok video caught by an eyewitness on the ground, the plane can be seen coming down with flashes of flame bursting from its engine.
Loud booms can also be heard as it makes its descent.
A Condor spokesperson told Bild: “Condor flight DE3665, with 273 passengers and eight crew members on board en route from Corfu to Düsseldorf, made an unscheduled stopover in Brindisi on the evening of August 16, 2025.
“The reason for this was a parameter reading outside the normal range, which is why the decision was made to divert the flight.”
An airline spokesperson told The New York Post the incident was caused by a chemical reaction inside the combustion chamber.
They further told the paper that none of the passengers on board were ever “in danger”.
But limited availability in Brindisi meant that not all passengers received hotel accommodation.
The spokesperson added: “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.
“Passengers who took advantage of alternative accommodation options can submit their expenses for reimbursement.”
The plane is currently undergoing a technical inspection.