At least 180 passengers were safely evacuated from a Ryanair Boeing jet on Thursday after it caught fire while taxiing at Brindisi Airport in southern Italy.
The incident, which halted air traffic for several hours, took place as the plane was preparing for takeoff on a flight to Turin.
A spokesperson from Brindisi Airport confirmed the fire and the subsequent temporary suspension of air operations.
The Irish airline, known for its extensive fleet and budget-friendly fares, assured that all 184 passengers and crew were safely evacuated without incident.
“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,” Ryanair said in a statement.
After the evacuation, passengers were flown to their destination on a replacement aircraft.
The airport reopened around three hours later, according to official updates from its website.
This comes just days after another Ryanair plane experienced a tire blowout upon landing at Milan Bergamo Airport, leading to a brief closure of the facility.
The earlier incident occurred with flight FR846, which had arrived from Barcelona.
Ryanair commented on the situation, stating that “Passengers disembarked normally, and the aircraft was inspected by engineers, who are currently servicing the aircraft so that it can return to service.”
In light of these back-to-back issues, several Italian lawmakers have raised concerns about Ryanair’s safety protocols.
Andrea Caroppo and Mauro D’Attis, both deputies in the Italian Parliament’s lower chamber and members of the Forza Italia party, called for a thorough investigation into the airline’s safety record.
In a joint statement with two other party members, they emphasized the need for scrutiny given Ryanair’s dominant position in Italy’s air travel market.
“This morning, at Brindisi airport, a new accident occurred, yet another, on a Ryanair plane,” they remarked. “We have therefore asked for an urgent hearing in the Transport Commission at the Chamber of ENAC leaders, with a focus on the safety of Ryanair flights, which – it is worth remembering – is the leading carrier in Italy for passenger traffic.”
The lawmakers also highlighted a series of incidents involving Ryanair earlier this year. In May, a flight from Bari to London was forced to turn back due to technical issues, and another flight from Bologna to Brussels had to make an emergency landing in Luxembourg after a fire broke out onboard.
“And these are just some of the many, too many accidents that have involved Ryanair in recent months, in Italy and Europe,” the statement added.
Ryanair did not respond to requests for comment regarding the lawmakers’ concerns, while Boeing, the manufacturer of the planes involved, directed inquiries back to the airline.
Meanwhile, ENAC, Italy’s National Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed that separate investigations into the two recent incidents were underway.
