Sunday, July 6, 2025
Travellers in a Ryanair plane departing from Palma Airport in Majorca were thrown into panic and chaos in the late hours of July 4. In the final few minutes before departure, the Ryanair Palma to Manchester flight was aborted in a dramatic move when a false fire warning was sounded and passengers had to evacuate the plane in a panic situation that was soon descending into chaos.
The flight, which was set to depart from Majorca’s Palma Airport late on Friday night, faced an unexpected and alarming incident when a fire warning light appeared on the cockpit panel. While there was no actual fire onboard, the indication was enough for the flight crew to initiate an evacuation. The scenario quickly turned chaotic, as a small group of passengers had to jump from the wing of the aircraft to the tarmac below, as no emergency slides were deployed.
A passenger who was onboard the flight described the moments following the emergency announcement as “utter chaos.” Savanah, a 26-year-old woman traveling with her family, recalled how the crew instructed passengers to “get off the plane,” but the disembarkation was far from organized. Video footage later emerged showing people climbing down the wing of the aircraft and jumping to the ground from a significant height.
Savanah and other passengers faced physical injuries during the evacuation. She detailed how her mother, who was 57 years old, broke her ankle in three places and required immediate surgery. Her friend’s mother was also seriously hurt, suffering fractures to her elbow, wrist, and foot. Other passengers, including Savanah herself, experienced less severe injuries, such as shoulder strains and ankle sprains. A doctor who tended to the injured passengers later confirmed that several individuals, including Savanah’s mother, were unfit to fly back home due to the severity of their injuries.
As panic spread among the passengers, the air stewardess urgently shouted for everyone to leave their belongings behind and abandon the plane as quickly as possible. According to Savanah, the experience was terrifying, and the lack of proper evacuation equipment — specifically the emergency slides — contributed to the confusion and panic.
Earlier in the day, Ryanair released an initial statement regarding the incident, claiming that the flight had been canceled due to a “false fire warning light indication.” The airline spokesperson further explained that passengers were evacuated using inflatable slides, and that only “very minor” injuries had occurred. However, the footage that later emerged contradicted this account, showing passengers leaving the plane via the wing and jumping to the tarmac, with no slides in sight.
In response to the conflicting reports, Ryanair issued a follow-up statement clarifying the situation. The airline confirmed that the flight had indeed been canceled due to the faulty fire warning and assured the public that steps were taken to minimize disruption for other passengers. A replacement aircraft was quickly arranged to ensure that the flight to Manchester departed early the following morning, at 7:05 a.m. Ryanair further stated that, while most injuries were “minor,” the company had arranged immediate medical assistance for those who needed it.
Despite the airline’s efforts to downplay the incident, the chaotic scenes at Palma Airport have raised concerns about emergency preparedness and the safety protocols for flights. The fact that passengers were required to jump off the wing of the plane and experience injuries during such an emergency situation has led to scrutiny regarding the handling of the evacuation process.
Local authorities at Palma Airport were quick to respond to the emergency, with the airport’s emergency response teams providing immediate medical attention to the injured passengers. The regional government-run emergency response coordination center reported that a total of 18 passengers sustained injuries during the evacuation, and six of them were transported to the hospital for further treatment. The airport staff assisted with clearing the area and managing the influx of emergency responders to ensure the safety of all involved.
While Ryanair has apologized to the affected passengers, the incident has sparked broader discussions on passenger safety, especially regarding how airlines manage emergency situations. Experts on aviation safety have emphasized the importance of having proper equipment, such as emergency slides, readily available during evacuations, as well as ensuring that flight crew members are fully trained to handle such high-stress situations.
For many travelers, this incident at Palma Airport has highlighted the unpredictable nature of air travel. With the chaos of the evacuation now a part of travel lore, those who were affected are left to recover from both the physical and emotional aftermath. As for Ryanair, the company’s handling of the situation and its future response to passenger safety concerns will likely remain under close scrutiny.
This disturbing incident also serves as a stark reminder to all travelers of the importance of staying calm and adhering to safety protocols during emergencies. The experience of Savanah and others who were aboard the flight underscores the unpredictable risks that can arise, and the importance of having well-practiced emergency procedures in place to ensure the safety of all passengers.
As investigations into the incident continue, Palma Airport authorities and aviation safety experts will likely revisit the evacuation procedures to identify areas where improvements can be made. While the immediate aftermath saw medical attention provided to the injured, the broader implications for airline safety and passenger security are likely to remain a key topic of discussion in the coming weeks.
Until this point in time, passengers on the Ryanair July 4 aircraft will carry with them the memories of that traumatic night when a routine flight was turned into an emergency evacuation that saw 18 people injured, some to this day still nursing their injuries.
«Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us»
