An Eurowings flight carrying 144 passengers made an emergency return to Düsseldorf Airport shortly after takeoff following reports of light smoke in the cabin. According to a statement from an airline spokesperson reported by German news agency dpa, the aircraft turned back as a precautionary measure while en route to Brindisi, Italy.
The flight departed at 16:53 and safely landed back at Düsseldorf Airport at 17:05, as confirmed by an airport spokesperson. The aircraft initially came to a halt on the airport’s southern runway, where passengers evacuated using mobile airstairs before being transported to the terminal via buses.
Airport Operations and Emergency Response
Operations at Düsseldorf Airport experienced a brief disruption during the incident. According to airport officials, air traffic was temporarily paused before being successfully rerouted to the northern runway. Normal flight operations resumed shortly afterward without further restrictions.
Local emergency services responded in force to the landing. The fire department deployed approximately 70 personnel from local fire and rescue services to the airfield. The emergency operation concluded after two hours.
Passenger Status and Next Steps
Medical personnel evaluated passengers at the scene, and two individuals were transported to regional hospitals as a precautionary measure, according to emergency services. Eurowings stated that the aircraft’s safety was never compromised and that the plane is undergoing technical inspections.
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