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More than a dozen Ryanair passengers were injured fleeing their plane when a fire alert went off moments before take-off at Majorca’s Palma airport this morning.
Some were filmed abandoning the plane via one of its wings before jumping to the tarmac as firefighters and police rushed to the scene.
Regional medical emergency response co-ordinators said 18 people needed assistance with what are being described locally as minor injuries. Six reportedly had to be taken to hospital.
The airline later confirmed ‘a false fire warning light indication’ went off, triggering the frantic response from customers and rescue staff.
Cabin crew are said to have alerted the emergency services, who received a call at 12.35am.
Four ambulances were mobilised and sent to the scene along with airport-based firefighters and the Civil Guard.
It was confirmed this morning the plane was about to leave the airport, although its destination is still not clear.
A confused airport worker was overheard telling a colleague in a walkie-talkie message: ‘Do you know the plane has emergency exits?’ as frightened travellers were filmed jumping to the tarmac from one of its wings in their rush to get away.
He added: ‘Plane about to leave from apron 10 or eight and now the people are jumping from the wing onto the ground.
‘Something’s happening, something’s happening, they’re evacuating the plane. Now the firefighters are coming.’
The incident is said to have caused ‘moments of great tension’ with the passengers seen jumping from the plane wing reportedly ‘acting out of fear’.
Most travellers are understood to have exited the plane in a more orderly fashion.
A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency response coordination centre confirmed early this morning: ‘We received an alert about a fire on a plane on the ground at Palma airport at 12.36am today.
‘Four ambulances were sent to the scene which were two basic life support units and two advanced life support unit.
‘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.’
A spokesperson for Ryanair said: ‘This flight from Palma to Manchester discontinued take-off due to a false fire warning light indication.
‘Passengers were disembarked using the inflatable slides and returned to the terminal.
‘While disembarking, a small number of passengers encountered very minor injuries (ankle sprains, etc.) and crew requested immediate medical assistance.
‘To minimise disruption to passengers, we quickly arranged a replacement aircraft to operate this flight, which departed Palma at 7.05am this morning.
‘We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused.’
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