Video Captures Moment Plane Engine Burst into Flames Shortly After Takeoff

A routine Condor Airlines flight from Corfu to Düsseldorf turned into a terrifying ordeal when passengers spotted flashes of fire coming from the plane’s engine shortly after takeoff on August 16.

Flames at 36,000 Feet

Flight DE 3665, a Boeing 757 carrying 273 passengers and eight crew members, had just leveled off at cruising altitude when bursts of orange flame were seen spitting from the right engine. A loud noise accompanied the flashes, and some passengers later described the moment as “horrible,” with one admitting they had sent farewell texts believing the worst was imminent.

Tracking data shows the aircraft had been airborne for about 40 minutes when the crew, noticing a disruption in airflow to the right turbine, shut the engine down as a precaution. Pilots quickly diverted the flight to Brindisi Airport in southern Italy, where the jet landed safely at 8:15 p.m.

Videos shared on social media show orange flashes lighting up the wing, confirming what many aboard feared was an engine fire.

Airline Response

Condor Airlines has since clarified that passengers were never in real danger. According to the airline, the flashes were the result of a chemical reaction in the engine’s combustion chamber, visible at the rear of the aircraft but not indicative of an uncontrolled fire. “The safety of our passengers and employees is always our top priority,” the airline said in a statement.