Passengers aboard a London-bound EasyJet flight were evacuated following an explosion on the runway in Heraklion, Crete, shortly before take-off. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 17 September 2024, is believed to have been caused by a power bank and e-cigarettes in a passenger’s cabin bag.
The explosion triggered an immediate response, with the doors of the plane opening and evacuation slides being activated. Within minutes, all 236 passengers, including two children, were safely evacuated from the aircraft. The flight to London was subsequently cancelled.
Local police and fire services rushed to the scene to investigate the cause of the explosion. No injuries have been reported, but the incident caused significant disruption for passengers.
A spokesperson for EasyJet confirmed the details of the evacuation, stating: “EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY8216 from Heraklion to London Gatwick was evacuated during boarding prior to departure due to a fire in a passenger’s cabin bag. Fire services attended the aircraft, and cabin crew evacuated the aircraft in line with procedures. Customers are currently being looked after in the terminal, and a replacement aircraft and crew have been arranged to fly customers home later today. Safety is our highest priority.”
The 236 travellers were forced to wait for another flight to London later that evening.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of certain electronic devices, such as power banks and e-cigarettes, on board flights, as authorities continue their investigation.
