- The Ryanair flight was carrying more than 180 passengers at the time
- Everyone on board was safely evacuated from the aircraft
- While taxiing, the aircraft’s wing was set on fire
A Ryanair flight with 184 passengers on board has been forced to abandon take-off after flames shot from its left engine.
Everyone on board the plane managed to escape without injury after it caught fire on a runway at Italy’s Aeroporti di Puglia airport in Brindisi.
The flight, which was due to depart for Turin at around 8.35am local time today, was aborted after a ‘strong flame’ was spotted on the wing of the Boeing 737-800 as it taxied.
Local media reported that the fire was the result of a serious problem with the engine.
Italian newspaper Correire Della Sera reported that everyone on board was escorted out using an inflatable slide after “moments of fear”, adding that all planes from the airport were on the ground for just under three hours, before planes took off at 11.25am local time could fly again. .
Everyone on board the plane managed to escape without injury after it caught fire on a runway at Italy’s Aeroporti di Puglia airport in Brindisi
Italian newspaper Correire Della Sera reported that everyone on board was escorted using an inflatable slide
The flight, which was due to depart for Turin at around 8.35am local time today, was aborted after a ‘strong flame’ was spotted on the wing
A Ryanair spokesperson told the Sun: ‘Flight FR8826 from Brindisi to Turin was delayed this morning after cabin crew observed fumes from the outside of the aircraft.
‘Passengers disembarked without incident and were returned to the terminal by bus.
“We sincerely apologize to the affected passengers for this delay.”
The spokesperson added that a backup plane will take off later this morning to get flyers safely to Turin.
It comes after British passengers described chaotic scenes after ‘all four’ tires of a Ryanair plane burst as it landed in Italy.
Passengers wait for their flights at Orio al Serio airport after Milan-Bergamo airport was closed due to the incident
Dramatic footage shows one of the blown tires on the Ryanair plane
Ryanair flight FR846 arriving from Barcelona El Prat, on the runway of Orio al Serio Airport, in Bergamo, Italy
Arriving and departing flights have been suspended at Orio al Serio airport in Bergamo, near Milan, following the incident involving the flight from Barcelona.
Dramatic images show the passenger plane with its tires missing and metal wheels crushed after it apparently scraped the runway, which was also damaged.
Bystanders who were on another flight claim their pilot told them the flight was the result of a “bad landing,” although this has not been confirmed by the airline or the airport.
Alice Longhurst, a marketing consultant from London, said: ‘You could smell the burning rubber on the plane. That was pretty scary.
“We were ready to leave and there were flames, which was scary. I was shocked. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.’
“They told us to wait a few hours and then they took us off the plane,” the 35-year-old continued.