A Buzz Boeing 737 MAX operated by Ryanair was evacuated at Stockholm Arlanda Airport after smoke filled the cabin while starting the engines.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 with registration SP-RZG was scheduled to depart as flight FR4626 bound for Krakow. However, the aircraft experienced indications of smoke in the cabin before takeoff. According to reports, 189 passengers were on board the aircraft at the time of the event.
Once the passengers boarded the plane, the crew assured that they would “defrost” it before take-off. As the engines roared to life, the ambient sounds of the world filled the cabin, accompanied by an unusual odour, recounted a passenger.
Following the initial disturbance, it took 10-15 minutes for smoke to permeate the cabin. The passengers had to raise their voices to implore the staff to open the doors and allow them to disembark.
#Entérate Un Boeing 737 MAX de Buzz (#RyanAir) realizó una evacuación por medio de los toboganes de emergencia en el Aeropuerto de Estocolmo Arlanda. La evacuación sucedió momentos después de que se presentara humo en la cabina de pasajeros durante el arranque de motores.
De… pic.twitter.com/1Ft3A6XzlB— EnElAire (@Enel_Aire) December 10, 2023
Multiple units from the rescue service, with police participation, swiftly responded to the incident and all had to use the inflatable slides to get out of the plane.
“The experience was highly traumatic, and we are still in the dark about the fire’s origin,” said one of the passengers.
Inside Arlanda, every passenger has been offered assistance from medical services, with no reports of injuries emerging post-incident.