A false fire alert aboard a Ryanair flight to Manchester caused panic and a chaotic emergency evacuation at Palma de Mallorca Airport early Saturday, resulting in minor injuries to 18 people, according to Spanish emergency services and airline officials as reported by TOI.
The incident occurred just after midnight while the aircraft was still on the runway. The evacuation was triggered by what was later confirmed to be a false fire warning. In a statement, Ryanair said, “This flight from Palma to Manchester discontinued take-off due to a false fire warning light indication. Passengers disembarked using the inflatable slides and returned to the terminal.”
Passengers evacuated amid panic
Following the alert, passengers were evacuated using emergency exits and inflatable slides. Social media footage showed several individuals climbing onto the aircraft’s wing and jumping to the tarmac, while others used the emergency slide on the opposite side of the plane.
Emergency services, including four ambulances, airport fire crews, and police, were deployed to the scene. A spokesperson for Majorcan emergency services said, “We received an alert about a fire on a plane on the ground at Palma airport at 00.36 am today... Eighteen people were injured and received medical assistance, of whom six were taken to hospital. They were all minor. Three went to the Clinica Rotger and three to the Palmaplanas Hospital.”
Confusion reported among cabin crew
Witnesses described confusion during the evacuation, with some passengers reporting a lack of clear instructions from flight attendants. A mother whose daughter was on the flight said, “One attendant shouted, ‘Get off’, the other froze and she didn’t know what was going on. She looked as shocked as the passengers,” as reported by TOI.
She added that her daughter called her during the evacuation in distress: “My daughter called me and said, ‘Mum, I’m trying to get down the slide, I might not survive this and I love you.’ It was horrible.”
An airport employee, expressed concern over passenger behavior during the evacuation: “Do you know the plane has emergency exits? Now the people are jumping from the wing onto the ground,” as reported by TOI.
Flight resumed after replacement arranged
Ryanair arranged a replacement aircraft which departed Palma at 07:05 AM. The airline confirmed that “a small number of passengers encountered very minor injuries (ankle sprains, etc.)” and apologised for the disruption.
Airport operations resumed normally following the evacuation, and no further incidents were reported.
(With inputs from TOI)
The incident occurred just after midnight while the aircraft was still on the runway. The evacuation was triggered by what was later confirmed to be a false fire warning. In a statement, Ryanair said, “This flight from Palma to Manchester discontinued take-off due to a false fire warning light indication. Passengers disembarked using the inflatable slides and returned to the terminal.”
Passengers evacuated amid panic
Following the alert, passengers were evacuated using emergency exits and inflatable slides. Social media footage showed several individuals climbing onto the aircraft’s wing and jumping to the tarmac, while others used the emergency slide on the opposite side of the plane.
Ryanair 737-800 evacuated at Palma de Mallorca Airport after a fire indication developed on board during taxi.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 5, 2025
The SAMU061 coordination center received a call at a.m, reporting a fire on flight RK3446 to Manchester.
A total of 18 people were injured during the evacuation, six… pic.twitter.com/XpCCejGq2t
Emergency services, including four ambulances, airport fire crews, and police, were deployed to the scene. A spokesperson for Majorcan emergency services said, “We received an alert about a fire on a plane on the ground at Palma airport at 00.36 am today... Eighteen people were injured and received medical assistance, of whom six were taken to hospital. They were all minor. Three went to the Clinica Rotger and three to the Palmaplanas Hospital.”
Confusion reported among cabin crew
Witnesses described confusion during the evacuation, with some passengers reporting a lack of clear instructions from flight attendants. A mother whose daughter was on the flight said, “One attendant shouted, ‘Get off’, the other froze and she didn’t know what was going on. She looked as shocked as the passengers,” as reported by TOI.
She added that her daughter called her during the evacuation in distress: “My daughter called me and said, ‘Mum, I’m trying to get down the slide, I might not survive this and I love you.’ It was horrible.”
An airport employee, expressed concern over passenger behavior during the evacuation: “Do you know the plane has emergency exits? Now the people are jumping from the wing onto the ground,” as reported by TOI.
Flight resumed after replacement arranged
Ryanair arranged a replacement aircraft which departed Palma at 07:05 AM. The airline confirmed that “a small number of passengers encountered very minor injuries (ankle sprains, etc.)” and apologised for the disruption.
Airport operations resumed normally following the evacuation, and no further incidents were reported.
(With inputs from TOI)
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