By Dayo Ade Olusla | M10News | Travel News
Published: July 5, 2025
Panic erupted aboard a Ryanair flight at Majorca’s Palma de Mallorca Airport in the early hours of today, after a false fire alert triggered an emergency evacuation moments before take-off, leaving several passengers injured
The flight, which was scheduled to depart for Manchester, was preparing to taxi when a fire alarm warning light activated inside the cockpit.
According to officials, cabin crew immediately alerted emergency services, prompting firefighters, police, and ambulances to rush to the scene at approximately 12:35 a.m.
Eyewitness videos captured chaotic scenes as some frightened passengers climbed onto one of the plane’s wings and jumped to the tarmac, while others evacuated through standard exits under the supervision of crew.
Medical response teams later confirmed that 18 people sustained injuries during the evacuation.
Most were treated at the scene for minor conditions such as sprains and bruises, while six individuals were transported to nearby hospitals for precautionary assessments.
“It caused moments of significant tension,” one airport official admitted, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Some passengers acted instinctively out of fear, using the wing to escape, though the majority left the aircraft more calmly through conventional exits.”
Audio from the airport’s internal communications revealed staff confusion as the incident unfolded. In a walkie-talkie exchange, one worker asked, “Do you know the plane has emergency exits?” before reporting, “Passengers are jumping from the wing to the ground. Something’s happening… firefighters are arriving.”
Authorities confirmed four ambulances, including both basic and advanced life support units, were dispatched to the scene.
Three patients were taken to Clinica Rotger Hospital, with three others admitted to Palmaplanas Hospital. All injuries have been classified as minor.
In a statement, Ryanair attributed the incident to a technical fault, describing the cockpit alert as a “false fire warning light indication.”
The airline added, “As a safety precaution, the flight from Palma to Manchester discontinued take-off. During the disembarkation, a small number of passengers suffered minor injuries, such as ankle sprains. Crew immediately requested medical assistance.”
Ryanair said a replacement aircraft was arranged swiftly, with the delayed flight departing Palma at 7:05 a.m. local time.
“We sincerely apologise to all affected passengers for the inconvenience caused by this disruption,” the airline stated.
The specific cause of the false alarm remains under investigation. Authorities have not reported any lasting damage to the aircraft.
Palma de Mallorca Airport, one of Spain’s busiest during the summer season, resumed normal operations following the incident.
M10News will continue to monitor this story for updates.
