A Condor Airlines flight from Corfu to Düsseldorf was forced into an emergency landing in Italy. Flames were seen coming from the Boeing 757’s engine shortly after takeoff, sparking panic among the 273 passengers.

“Suddenly, the power went out, and we realized we were no longer climbing,” one passenger recalled. Another added, “I already sent goodbye texts because I thought, ‘It’s over now.’”

The plane diverted safely to Brindisi Airport only 40 minutes after departure. Videos showed bursts of fire flashing from the engine, shocking both those onboard and people watching from the ground.

Condor Airlines later explained it was not a fire, but a “disturbance in the engine airflow.” They confirmed that passengers were never in real danger, though many were left shaken and stranded overnight in Italy.

The airline apologized and sent another aircraft to carry travelers to Düsseldorf the same day. Still, the memory lingers. As one passenger put it, “It was an incredibly horrible experience.”

Events like this remind us how fragile every journey can feel. What would you have texted in those final moments?