Over a Dozen Passengers Injured While Evacuating Plane Before Takeoff

What was supposed to be a routine Ryanair flight turned into chaos on the tarmac as more than a dozen passengers were injured during a frantic emergency evacuation triggered by a false fire warning.

On the morning of July 4, just before takeoff from Palma de Mallorca Airport, Flight FR4052 to Manchester, England was suddenly halted after cockpit alarms signaled a potential onboard fire. The aircraft never left the ground—but the panic had already taken off.

Passengers were rushed off the plane using inflatable slides, scrambling across the hot tarmac as flight attendants barked orders. Emergency responders flooded the scene. In the end, 18 people were treated for injuries, including sprains and bruises. Six were transported to nearby hospitals for further care.

“There was no smoke, no fire. Just chaos,” said passenger Helen Darbyshire, who was traveling with her children. “People were screaming. We thought the plane was on fire. Everyone just ran.”

Another traveler, Jason O’Neill, said the evacuation was so rushed that “people were tripping over each other on the slide. One woman twisted her ankle. Kids were crying. It was terrifying.”

Ryanair confirmed the cause of the evacuation was a false fire warning light in the cockpit.

“This flight from Palma to Manchester discontinued take-off due to a false fire warning light indication. Passengers were disembarked using the inflatable slides and returned to the terminal,” a Ryanair spokesperson said.

The airline issued a brief apology:

“We sincerely apologize to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused.”

But for some travelers, that apology rang hollow. “It wasn’t just an inconvenience,” said O’Neill. “We thought we were going to die.”

Palma Airport officials confirmed that no fire ever occurred and emphasized that airport operations were not disrupted.

This isn’t the first time Ryanair’s name has been linked to mayhem in the skies. The airline, often criticized for cost-cutting measures and contentious labor relations, is currently facing unrest among its cabin crew. Workers in Palma, Malaga, and Barcelona have staged multiple strikes in recent years, demanding better pay and conditions. Tensions on the ground have been brewing—and some passengers now wonder if they’re feeling the heat.

Despite the incident, Ryanair managed to rebook passengers on a replacement aircraft, which departed at 7:05 a.m. the following morning.

“There was an incident on a Ryanair plane last night at Palma de Mallorca Airport. There was no fire at any time,” the airport reiterated in a separate statement.

Still, questions remain: Why did a false alarm trigger such a severe reaction? Was the aircraft properly maintained? And could this have been prevented?

As one shaken passenger put it bluntly: “It felt like a nightmare—but it was real.”