Panic in Mallorca: Ryanair passengers jump from plane wing!

Panic in Mallorca: Ryanair passengers jump from plane wing!

On July 5, 2025, a dramatic incident occurred at Palma de Mallorca Airport with a Ryanair passenger plane that had to be evacuated due to a fire alarm. Flight RK3446, which was scheduled to fly to Manchester, UK, never took off because the crew received a false fire warning light alarm. The passengers were informed about the evacuation plan in good time and were able to leave the aircraft in an orderly manner through the emergency exits. The media reported chaotic scenes as some panicked travelers jumped from the plane's wings, causing further injuries. A total of 18 people were treated by paramedics, including six slightly injured minors who were taken to two hospitals. Fortunately, all injuries were minor and no serious incidents were recorded.

The frightening scenario unfolded on Saturday night when the flight crew aborted takeoff due to a false indication. Video footage shows passengers climbing out of an emergency exit and hastily running away from the plane. An additional alarm was triggered even though no smoke or flames were visible. This unplanned evacuation resulted in a number of injuries, but there were no serious consequences, according to the official report.

Quick reactions and replacement machine

Ryanair reacted immediately to the difficult situation. A replacement aircraft was quickly made available and the affected travelers were able to fly on to Manchester on a new aircraft on Saturday morning. The new aircraft took off at 07:20 a.m. and landed in Manchester on schedule at 09:32 a.m. (CEST). Ryanair apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the incident.

The full evacuation was carried out under controlled conditions and passengers used both emergency exits and inflatable slides to return safely to the terminal. According to Tagesspiegel, it was a coordinated evacuation, which was exemplary given the excitement. Nevertheless, the incident highlighted the challenges and risks of open evacuations: The stampede effect, i.e. the uncontrolled movement towards exits, represents a significant risk, especially when there are high passenger numbers.

Planning and prevention during evacuation

The complexity of airport evacuations should not be underestimated. According to Aertecsolutions, evacuation plans must be detailed and specific to meet different requirements. The need for a rapid and coordinated response is becoming increasingly important to avoid panic. Airports are being asked to reduce evacuation times to under three minutes and provide clear, understandable instructions.

This incident in Palma de Mallorca once again shows how important well-trained evacuation teams and thorough training are for such emergency scenarios. Evacuation drills are essential to be well prepared for real situations and to save lives.