18 people have been injured after a false fire alarm on a Ryanair plane at Majorca’s Palma airport.
Six of those who were injured have been hospitalised.
Ryanair staff onboard the plane are said to have alerted the emergency services, who received a call at 12.35am on Saturday morning.
It was confirmed that the plane was about to leave the airport, although its destination is currently unknown.
Four ambulances were mobilised and sent to the scene along with airport-based firefighters and the Civil Guard.
Some passengers were filmed abandoning the plane via one of its wings before jumping to the tarmac as firefighters and police rushed to the scene.
The incident is said to have caused “moments of great tension” with the passengers seen jumping from the plane wing reportedly “acting out of fear.”
Most travellers are understood to have exited the plane in a more orderly fashion.
Regional medical emergency response coordinators said 18 people needed assistance with what are being described locally as minor injuries.
A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency response coordination centre confirmed early this morning: “We received an alert about a fire on a plane on the ground at Palma airport at 00.36am today.
“Four ambulances were sent to the scene which were two basic life support units and two advanced life support unit.
“Eighteen people were injured and received medical assistance of whom six were taken to hospital.
“They were all minor. Three went to the Clinica Rotger and three to the Palmaplanas Hospital.”
In a statement, Ryanair said: “This flight from Palma to Manchester (4 July) discontinued take-off due to a false fire warning light indication.
"Passengers were disembarked using the inflatable slides and returned to the terminal. While disembarking, a small number of passengers encountered very minor injuries (ankle sprains, etc.) and crew requested immediate medical assistance.
"To minimise disruption to passengers, we quickly arranged a replacement aircraft to operate this flight, which departed Palma at 07:05 this morning.
"We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused.”
