Eleftherios Venizelos: Panic aboard Lufthansa flight after engine fire alert – Emergency evacuation via slides

Panic and confusion broke out on a Lufthansa flight headed to Munich when the aircraft was forced to return to “Eleftherios Venizelos” Airport just minutes after departure because of an indication of a technical problem in one of the engines.

According to available information, flight LH1753 departed from Athens with a slight delay, but approximately fifteen minutes later, the pilot reported a fire in one engine and decided to return the aircraft to Athens International Airport as a precautionary safety measure.

After landing, an immediate evacuation procedure followed, with passengers exiting the aircraft using the inflatable emergency slides, while intervention from the Fire Service was ultimately not required.

Lufthansa’s statement regarding the incident

According to a statement by the airline, the crew of the Airbus A321 received a warning message indicating a malfunction.

Following safety protocols, the pilots declared an emergency in order to secure priority for an immediate landing. The aircraft, carrying 177 passengers and 7 crew members, landed safely and taxied to the parking position under its own power.

Despite the smooth landing, the crew considered the immediate evacuation of passengers necessary due to a strong odor detected in the rear cabin area. For this reason, the inflatable emergency slides were deployed.

During the evacuation process, three passengers sustained minor injuries and were transported to hospital to receive first aid treatment. The Airbus remains grounded and is being examined by technical experts to determine the cause of the issue. According to the statement, Lufthansa staff are assisting passengers at the airport and arranging the rebooking of tickets to their final destinations.

“The safety of passengers and crew is our highest priority,” a Lufthansa spokesperson stated, with the company also apologizing for the inconvenience.