Eighteen passengers were injured in an unusual evacuation of a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 following a false fire alarm at Palma, Spain, on Friday. Most of the injuries were minor and included cuts, bruises, and sprains after some of the passengers jumped from the wings. Video of the incident appears to show at least one evacuation slide deployed from the left exit behind the flight deck, but passengers opened over-wing exits on the right side and dropped about 12 feet to the pavement. The airline later did say the slides were triggered. Some passengers were hospitalized overnight.
“This flight from Palma to Manchester discontinued take-off due (the incident happened during pushback) to a false fire warning light indication. Passengers were disembarked using the inflatable slides and returned to the terminal,” a spokesperson for the airline told People. “While disembarking, a small number of passengers encountered very minor injuries (ankle sprains, etc.) and crew requested immediate medical assistance.” The engine fire light illuminated on the flight deck as the crew was getting ready for the short flight. The passengers who were able to travel were put on another aircraft and got to Manchester about four hours late.
It appears as if people are a bit edgy, these days.
Lack of trust in the aircraft or maybe a bit fearful about staff/ crew competence in conducting a proper/ organized evacuation makes for an explosive mixture.
Must be the crazy times we live in…
The FAA needs to add to the Safety Briefing Card and FA over wing briefing the specific instruction to follow the painted arrows and evacuate only off the trailing edge flaps. The videoes of Sully’s forced landing in thr Hudson set the example folks have followed about climbing out onto the wing in an evac. This is extremely dangerous as there’s nothing to grab to catch yourself if you begin to fall except another victim you take down with you as you fall the equivalent of falling out of a 2nd or 3rd story window.