Three passengers suffered minor injuries after a Lufthansa flight was evacuated using emergency slides at Athens International Airport following reports of a strong odor inside the aircraft.
The German airline said the incident occurred on Monday afternoon aboard an Airbus A321 travelling from Athens to Munich with 177 passengers and seven crew members on board.
According to Lufthansa, the aircraft returned to Athens shortly after take-off after a warning was triggered in the cockpit. The crew declared a “respiratory emergency” in line with aviation safety procedures in order to secure priority landing clearance.
The airline said the aircraft landed safely and taxied normally to its parking position. However, due to the strong smell detected in the rear section of the cabin, the crew decided to initiate an evacuation using emergency slides.
Three passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation and received medical treatment at the airport, the airline confirmed.
Lufthansa said ground staff were assisting affected passengers and arranging alternative flights to their final destinations.
The aircraft is currently undergoing a technical inspection as investigators work to determine the source of the odor. The airline apologized for the disruption and stressed that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority.
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