A short inter-island flight in Greece turned into moments of anxiety for dozens of passengers after a plane departing from Rhodes was forced to return immediately to the airport. Reports from local media spoke of smoke and visible flames in one of the engines, while the airline’s official version was more cautious about the nature of the incident.
Immediate return just minutes after takeoff
The ATR 42 turboprop aircraft operated by Olympic Air, part of the AEGEAN group, had departed from the Greek island of Rhodes for Karpathos when it was forced to change course just minutes after takeoff.
According to reports, the crew identified a problem in one of the two engines and the pilot decided to return to Rhodes’ Diagoras airport.
Reports of smoke and flames, but the company stops short of full confirmation
Local media reported that smoke came from the engine during the flight and that flames were also seen for a few moments. Published footage shows a visible trail of smoke behind the aircraft.
However, in its official response, AEGEAN did not confirm that the engine caught fire. According to the company, the aircraft displayed a signal indicating a possible problem in the oil system of one engine, which triggered safety procedures and the immediate return.
Landing without consequences and runway alert
According to reports, the engine with the problem was shut down and the aircraft continued flying on the other engine until landing. An alert had been issued at the airport, and firefighters and emergency services were positioned near the runway.
Their intervention, however, was not needed. All 33 passengers and three crew members disembarked safely, with no injuries reported.
What is known about flight OA94
The aircraft was operating scheduled flight OA94 on the Rhodes–Karpathos route, with a planned continuation to Kasos and Sitia.
After the incident, the company sent another aircraft from Athens to pick up the passengers and continue the route. The exact causes of the malfunction remain to be determined by the aircraft’s technical inspection.
So far, what remains confirmed is the uneventful landing and the absence of injuries.
On the most disputed part of the incident — whether there were actually flames in the engine or only a technical warning and smoke — local reports and the official version do not fully match.