Glasgow Airport drama as passengers are evacuated from smoke-filled plane as it prepares for takeoff

Oct 19 2012 By Fraser Wilson

FOUR people were taken to hospital after passengers and crew were evacuated from a plane preparing for take-off at Glasgow Airport this morning.

Seventeen of the 189 passengers on board the Jet2 aircraft bound for Alicante in Spain were injured in the emergency evacuation after smoke was detected in the cabin at 7.40am.

Strathclyde Police said four people had been taken to hospital and 13 people had received medical treatment at the scene.

Passengers left the aircraft using inflatable chutes after the flight was forced into an emergency stop as it prepared to take off.

A spokesman for Jet2 said: "This morning’s flight LS177 from Glasgow airport to Alicante made an emergency stop on the runway just prior to take off.  The 737-800 aircraft was evacuated as per standard operating procedures.

"All 189 passengers have disembarked the aircraft and we are aware of seventeen passengers with minor injuries who are being looked after by paramedics and our staff on the ground."

The runway was closed as arrangements were made with the airport and AAIB to have the aircraft removed. It reopened at 10am.

Glasgow Airport confirmed six inbound flights were diverted via Edinburgh, Manchester, Prestwick and Aberdeen.

Five flights were cancelled and 14 were delayed.

The incident follows one similar at the same airport last week involving a Thomas Cook flight that had just arrived from Turkey.