Panic on Ryanair Flight: Smoke Fills Cabin, Five Passengers Left in Coma After Emergency Evacuation

In a terrifying incident aboard a Ryanair flight, passengers were forced to evacuate after thick smoke suddenly filled the aircraft cabin mid-flight, leaving five individuals in a coma and several others hospitalized. The dramatic emergency unfolded on Friday afternoon aboard flight FR7216, which had taken off from London Stansted Airport en route to Malaga, Spain.

Smoke Fills the Cabin Mid-Flight

According to eyewitness reports, approximately 20 minutes into the flight, passengers began noticing a strange odor circulating through the cabin, followed quickly by a cloud of dense, grey smoke. Panic spread rapidly as visibility inside the aircraft dropped and passengers struggled to breathe.

“I looked up and all I could see was smoke,” said one passenger, Amanda Lewis, who was traveling with her two children. “People were screaming, others were crying, and many were coughing uncontrollably. It was pure chaos.”

Flight attendants responded immediately, instructing passengers to remain calm while they attempted to locate the source of the smoke. Oxygen masks were not deployed, leading to further confusion and anxiety among the passengers.

Emergency Landing and Evacuation

The pilot declared an emergency and quickly rerouted the aircraft for an emergency landing at Nantes Atlantique Airport in western France. Within 15 minutes, the plane touched down safely on the runway.

Emergency responders, including firefighters, paramedics, and airport staff, rushed to the scene. Passengers were evacuated using inflatable slides, and dozens received medical attention on the tarmac. Of the 184 people on board, 27 were treated for smoke inhalation, with five passengers later placed in medically induced comas due to severe respiratory distress.

“The smoke was unbearable. I thought I was going to pass out,” said another survivor, Tomasz Zielinski, a Polish tourist on his way to a family reunion in Spain. “They kept telling us to stay calm, but it was hard to breathe.”

Investigation Underway

Ryanair confirmed the incident in a brief statement on its official website:

> “Flight FR7216 from London Stansted to Malaga diverted to Nantes following the detection of smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers were evacuated. We are cooperating fully with the French aviation authorities and are providing support to those affected.”

French aviation safety agency BEA (Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety) has launched a formal investigation into the incident. Preliminary reports suggest a possible electrical malfunction in one of the overhead luggage compartments may have sparked the smoke, though this has not yet been officially confirmed.

Engineers are currently inspecting the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, which remains grounded in Nantes pending the outcome of the investigation.

Concerns Over Airline Safety Protocols

The incident has sparked renewed concerns over airline safety protocols, particularly regarding Ryanair’s handling of in-flight emergencies. Some passengers have criticized the airline for what they described as a slow and inadequate response.

“There were no oxygen masks, and the crew didn’t know what to do,” said a passenger who wished to remain anonymous. “People were gasping for air, and it was terrifying. They weren’t prepared.”

Aviation experts note that while in-flight smoke incidents are rare, they are among the most dangerous situations on an aircraft due to the risk of toxic fumes and the difficulty in locating the source quickly.

“Smoke in the cabin can become life-threatening in minutes,” said Captain Richard Goodwin, a retired commercial pilot and aviation safety consultant. “Rapid response is essential, and it’s clear that this situation could have been much worse.”

Families Await News

As of Saturday morning, five passengers remain in comas at a hospital in Nantes. Their identities have not been officially released, but family members are being notified and flown in to be at their bedsides.

“We just want to know if our daughter will wake up,” said the father of one of the affected passengers, visibly emotional outside the hospital. “She was going on a holiday. This shouldn’t have happened.”

Ryanair has offered compensation to the injured and has promised to cover all medical and accommodation expenses for affected passengers and their families.

Government Response

Transport authorities in the UK and France have been in close contact since the incident. The UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued a notice requesting Ryanair’s full compliance with safety review procedures. A spokesperson for the UK Department for Transport stated:

> “We are monitoring the situation closely and will ensure that all necessary safety measures are taken. The wellbeing of passengers must remain the top priority.”

Final Thoughts

Friday’s incident serves as a harrowing reminder of the unpredictability of air travel. While Ryanair maintains a strong safety record overall, the airline will now face scrutiny over how the emergency was handled and whether proper safety procedures were followed.

As the investigation continues, the aviation community — and indeed, the public — await answers to how a routine holiday flight turned into a nightmare at 30,000 feet.