Ryanair plane engine catches fire and forces emergency evacuation

Passengers were evacuated via the inflatable slide

Passengers and crew on a Ryanair flight had to be evacuated from their flight as one of the aircraft's engines burst into flames. The passengers were forced to use emergency slides to leave the plane after the fire broke out.

The aircraft was ready to leave Brindisi Airport, in Italy, when the engine caught fire. Swift action was taken by the airport firefighters who rushed to the scene, leading to the evacuation of all 184 passengers via the emergency inflatable slides.

This emergency has led to a temporary closure of the airport in southern Italy, reports the Mirror. An airport spokesperson said: "Aeroporti di Puglia announces that due to a problem with a departing aircraft, it was necessary to close the Salento Airport in Brindisi.

"The problem, which occurred when the aircraft was already aligned at the head for take-off, required the evacuation of passengers via emergency slides.

"All operations were carried out with maximum safety for passengers and crew. The passengers are already at the airport where they are being assisted by Aeroporti di Puglia personnel.

"The company's technicians are working on the interventions within their competence and necessary so that Aeroporti di Puglia can proceed with the subsequent checks on the usability of the runway and proceed with the reopening of the airport."

As the fumes began to emerge outside the aircraft while still on the ground in Brindisi, the cabin crew promptly initiated the emergency procedure. No serious injuries were reported.

A Ryanair representative stated: "Flight FR8826 from Brindisi to Turin (3rd Oct) was delayed this morning after cabin crew observed fumes on the outside of the aircraft. Passengers were disembarked without incident and returned to the terminal by bus.

"We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for this delay, and a spare aircraft will operate Flight FR8826 from Brindisi to Turin later this morning."

Ryanair, alongside British Airways, is one of the various airlines that operate out of the airport, which normally sees over three million passengers annually. The Ryanair flight in question, FR8826, was scheduled to fly from Brindisi to Turin, located in Italy's northwest.

The incident follows a situation where a Ryanair plane experienced a significant issue when "all four" tyres burst upon landing at the Orio al Serio airport in Bergamo, near Milan, on Tuesday. Dramatic images circulated showing the plane stripped of its tyres, with the bare metal of the wheels exposed as they appeared to have scraped along the runway.

As a consequence, all arrivals and departures at the airport were halted. Eyewitnesses on another flight recounted how their pilot attributed the fault to a "bad landing", although neither the airline nor airport authorities have officially verified such a claim at the time of writing.