Athens, Greece: A Lufthansa Airbus A321neo operating flight LH1753 from Athens to Munich was forced to return shortly after departure following an onboard technical warning that triggered an emergency response and passenger evacuation at Athens International Airport.
The aircraft departed from Athens on May 11 but crews soon received a warning indication linked to the aircraft’s Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) system. Several reports initially described the situation as a possible engine or fire alert, while Lufthansa later clarified that the cockpit had received a malfunction indication and the crew followed standard emergency procedures.
The Airbus A321neo safely returned to Athens after remaining airborne for only a short period. Following landing, emergency services surrounded the aircraft as it taxied on the airport surface. Cabin crew subsequently initiated a full emergency evacuation using inflatable slides after passengers and crew reportedly noticed a strong odor in the rear section of the cabin.
Lufthansa confirmed that 177 passengers and seven crew members were onboard the aircraft during the incident. The airline statements indicated that three passengers sustained minor injuries during the slide evacuation and received medical attention. No serious injuries were reported.
Several eyewitness accounts described scenes of panic and confusion during the evacuation, with passengers rapidly exiting the aircraft under crew instructions. Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed emergency responders positioned around the aircraft while slides remained deployed.
Lufthansa stated that the crew declared an emergency in accordance with established safety procedures to ensure priority handling for the aircraft’s return to Athens. The airline also noted that the evacuation was conducted as a precautionary measure after the odor was detected in the aft cabin area.
Airport operations at Athens continued normally following the incident, while technical inspections of the aircraft were initiated. Authorities and the airline are continuing to assess the exact cause of the malfunction indication.
