Sequence & Resolution
Event Date05/11/2026
Level
Serious Incident
CategorySmoke Indication
Flight PhaseClimb
Affected AltitudeFL080
Technical Issue Details
•Airbus A321-200N (D-AIEA) was operating flight LH1753 from Athens (ATH) to Munich (MUC) carrying 177 passengers and 7 crew members.
•During climb out from runway 21L, the crew halted the climb at 8000 feet due to an engine (PW1133G) fire indication (later confirmed to be an APU fire warning).
•Concurrently, a strong odour was reported in the aft section of the passenger cabin.
Outcome / Handling
•The crew declared an emergency and returned to Athens for a safe landing on runway 21L approximately 13 minutes after departure.
•The aircraft taxied to the apron, where the captain ordered an emergency evacuation via slides due to the strong odour in the aft cabin.
•Three passengers sustained minor injuries during the slide evacuation.
Current Status
•The three injured passengers were transported to a hospital for treatment and were later discharged.
•Technical investigation revealed that the APU was completely undamaged and the fire warning was a false alarm.
•The kerosene odor in the cabin was determined to have been drawn into the air conditioning system from a diesel-powered ground vehicle nearby.
Sourcewww.in.gr
Flight Information
Flight NumberLH1753
Flight Duration13 minutes
Departure Runway21L (ATH)
Landing Runway21L (ATH)