Passengers evacuate Ryanair plane at Majorca’s Palma airport

Several people were left with minor injuries after a "false fire warning light indication" on a Ryanair plane at Majorca’s Palma airport. The incident happened late last night, on July 4. 

Passengers onboard the flight told the Manchester Evening News that they were told to leave the aircraft by cabin crew, with some injuring themselves and they exited the plane via the wing. The Manchester-bound flight was discontinued in light of the incident at the air hub visited by millions of tourists every summer. Speaking about the incident, Ryanair told the Express: "This flight from Palma to Manchester (4 July) discontinued take-off due to a false fire warning light indication. Passengers were disembarked using the inflatable slides and returned to the terminal." The procedure left 18 people needing assistance, according to regional medical emergency response coordinators. Six people were taken to hospital.

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Ryanair, which didn't comment on the number of people injured, said: "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 07:05 this morning.

"We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused.”

However, one passenger claimed she could smell "burnt electrics" when she returned to collect her luggage.

Another, Savanah, 26, from Whitefield, added: "We were all just sat on the plane. They made an announcement saying we're going to go in five minutes. All of a sudden I heard a bang. It didn't worry me too much. Then everyone was screaming and running.

"The air stewardess screamed, 'get off the plane', leave your belongings. It was utter chaos.

"We got off via the wing. There were no slides. I've hurt my shoulder, my friend hurt her knee.

"Her mum fractured her elbow, wrist and foot. My mum broke her ankle. She's in a cast.

"She's having surgery now. She's done it in three places."

Savannah also said doctors had told her mother, her friend, and her friend's mother are not fit to fly back due to the injuries they sustained.

Four ambulances were reportedly mobilised and sent to the scene along with airport-based firefighters and the Civil Guard. 

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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 00.36am today [11.36pm on July 4].

“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.” 

The incident is said to have caused “moments of great tension” with some of the passengers reportedly seen jumping from the plane wing reportedly “acting out of fear.”