A Lufthansa Airbus A321 had to turn back and make a precautionary landing shortly after takeoff from Athens-Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport on Monday afternoon. The reason for the aborted flight to Munich was a warning light in the cockpit indicating a fire in the auxiliary power unit (APU).
Since an intense, kerosene-like odor was also detected in the cabin, the cockpit crew ordered the evacuation of the aircraft via the emergency slides immediately after touchdown on the runway. There were a total of 177 passengers and seven crew members on board.
During the evacuation, three passengers sustained minor injuries. They were taken to a nearby hospital for medical examination but were quickly released after outpatient treatment. The remaining passengers were rebooked on alternative flights or accommodated in hotels overnight into Tuesday, and according to the airline, all travelers have now arrived at their destinations. Athens Airport experienced brief operational disruptions due to the incident, as the aircraft remained on the tarmac for the duration of the rescue operation.
The subsequent technical investigation by Lufthansa technicians and the Greek Civil Aviation Authority revealed that the fire alarm was a false alarm. The auxiliary power unit showed no signs of fire or technical defects. The cause of the unusual odor in the cabin was also determined: According to the investigation, the fumes originated from a diesel-powered ground vehicle that was in close proximity to the aircraft at the time of landing. The vehicle’s exhaust fumes were drawn into the Airbus’s interior via the air conditioning system, which, combined with the error message, prompted the crew to initiate emergency procedures.
The affected Airbus A321 is expected to return to regular service towards the end of the week after a final safety check and its transfer to Munich. The airline emphasized that the decision to deploy the emergency slides was based on a precautionary safety assessment and that passenger safety was never actually at risk. Aviation experts pointed out that, in aviation, odor detection combined with technical warnings must always be handled according to strict emergency protocols to eliminate any risk.