Passengers aboard a Ryanair flight bound for Bristol were evacuated at Krakow John Paul II International Airport in Poland after the crew noticed smoke.
The incident occurred as the flight FR5519 prepared for departure, with crew members detecting smoke in the cabin and immediately implementing emergency evacuation procedures to ensure passenger safety before the source of the smoke could be identified.
The crew’s discovery of smoke of unknown origin prompted the immediate evacuation of all passengers from the aircraft via emergency slides of the Boeing 737 MAX 8-200.
A spokesperson for Krakow Airport said in a statement: “At the moment, the causes of the incident are not yet known. The passengers were transported back to the terminal, and the aircraft is being checked by the services.”
The unknown origin of the smoke makes the incident particularly concerning, as potential sources could range from relatively minor electrical issues to more serious mechanical problems or fire risks. Aircraft maintenance and safety teams conducted thorough inspections to identify the source.
The Boeing aircraft (registration EI-ILN) finally departed Krakow at 16:12 (local time), 6 hours late. It is expected to land at 17:30 in Bristol.
