PALMA— Eighteen passengers were injured after a fire erupted aboard a Ryanair (FR) aircraft at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), prompting a chaotic evacuation via the aircraft wing.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight as the Ryanair (FR) flight was preparing for departure from Palma de Mallorca (PMI). Emergency crews responded swiftly as passengers abandoned the jet in panic.
Ryanair Fire Injured 18
The fire reportedly broke out while the Ryanair Boeing 737 aircraft was still grounded at Palma Airport (PMI) around 12:35 a.m.
According to local authorities, the flight crew made an emergency call alerting responders, who were dispatched within minutes.
Passengers onboard did not wait for conventional evacuation; many climbed out onto the wing and jumped to the tarmac in distress.
Video footage captured the moment passengers exited the aircraft via the wing and sprinted across the tarmac. In the background, an airport worker is heard warning others and commenting on the use of emergency exits.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic, with passengers shouting and pushing to escape the cabin. Firefighters and airport police arrived quickly to manage the scene and assist those who had leapt from the aircraft.
According to Ryanair, the flight was aborted due to a false fire warning light indication while still on the ground at Palma Airport. The crew followed standard protocol, initiating an emergency evacuation to ensure passenger safety.
In a statement, the airline said:
“This flight from Palma to Manchester, on July 4, discontinued take-off due to a false fire warning light indication. Passengers were disembarked using the inflatable slides and returned to the terminal.”
The emergency evacuation led to minor injuries among several passengers, including ankle sprains. Ryanair confirmed that medical assistance was requested immediately by the crew.
A spokesman for the regional government’s emergency coordination centre confirmed the timeline, stating:
“We received an alert about a fire on a plane on the ground at Palma airport at 00.36am today.”
Emergency Response
Local emergency response units confirmed they were alerted at 00:36 a.m. and dispatched four ambulances — two with basic life support capabilities and two with advanced support.
A total of 18 people received medical attention for injuries sustained during the evacuation. Six individuals were transported to local hospitals — Clinica Rotger and Palmaplanas Hospital — with minor injuries, mostly related to falls and panic-related incidents.
There were no reports of severe burns or life-threatening injuries, suggesting the fire was either quickly extinguished or confined to a localized area of the aircraft. The exact origin and nature of the fire have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Investigation Underway
An investigation is ongoing, led by airport safety officials and local fire inspectors. Aviation authorities are expected to examine flight logs, maintenance records, and crew responses in the hours following the emergency.
Despite the dramatic visuals and panic, swift response from the crew and emergency services prevented more serious injuries.
To minimize further delay, Ryanair arranged a replacement aircraft, which departed Palma at 07:05 AM.
The airline added:
“We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused.”
Despite the dramatic sequence of events, no serious injuries were reported, and operations at Palma Airport returned to normal after the incident.
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