Emergency landing of Ryanair flight due to smoke in cabin
A Ryanair flight (FR2970, operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 reg. EI-IJI) bound for Edinburgh experienced a smoke alert shortly after takeoff from Tenerife South (Reina Sofía) Airport, prompting an urgent return to the island.
Incident Overview
Passengers and crew faced a tense situation as smoke was detected in the cabin soon after departure. The flight crew immediately alerted air traffic control and requested an emergency return to Tenerife South Airport.
Response and Procedure
To prioritise the safety of the passengers and crew, the control tower swiftly redirected other air traffic and cleared the affected flight for an expedited return:
- Notification and Coordination:
- The flight crew communicated the emergency to the control tower, signalling the need for an urgent landing.
- Air traffic controllers promptly moved other aircraft away from the vicinity to ensure a clear path for the emergency landing.
- Emergency Services Activation:
- Emergency response teams at Tenerife South Airport were immediately activated and prepared for the incoming aircraft.
- The runway was cleared, and emergency personnel were on standby.
- Safe Landing:
- The Ryanair aircraft landed without incident.
- Passengers and crew were safely disembarked, and the source of the smoke was investigated by the airline's technical team.
Impact on Air Traffic
Due to the emergency landing, other scheduled flights were temporarily held in a holding pattern until the runway was cleared and deemed operational again. This precaution ensured that no additional risks were posed to other aircraft during the emergency response.
Official Statements
Ryanair and the Tenerife South Airport authorities have not yet provided detailed statements regarding the cause of the smoke. However, air traffic controllers confirmed that the situation was managed efficiently, and all passengers and crew members were unharmed.
Conclusion
The quick and coordinated response of the flight crew, air traffic controllers, and emergency services ensured the safe return of the Ryanair flight to Tenerife South Airport. The incident underscores the importance of rigorous emergency protocols and the effective collaboration between airline staff and airport authorities in managing in-flight emergencies. Further investigations will determine the cause of the smoke alert to prevent future occurrences.
- FR2970.JPG (19.59 KiB) Viewed 11460 times
Note: after some time on the ground to solve the problem, the aircraft was able to resume its flight to Edinburgh, where it arrived with a delay of 3 hours.
