An EasyJet flight scheduled to depart from Manchester Airport was surrounded by fire engines and passengers were evacuated after the pilot detected a smell of fumes in the cockpit.
Flight EZY9143 was scheduled to depart Manchester for Dalaman, Turkey, at 5.30pm on Thursday, August 20. As the aircraft was being pushed back from the gate in preparation for take-off, the pilot reportedly detected a smell of fumes in the cockpit, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Emergency Services Called as Precaution
In line with standard safety procedures, emergency services, including airport fire crews, were called to the scene. However, it has been reported there was no fire on board the aircraft.
Passengers were asked to leave the aircraft, with the airline confirming that hotel accommodation had been arranged for the night and that they would travel on a replacement aircraft on Friday.
Brief Delays to Other Flights
The emergency response is understood to have caused brief delays to a small number of flights scheduled to depart around the same time, although there was no significant disruption to airport operations.
A fire alarm also reportedly sounded in the terminal at around the same time, but it is believed to have been unrelated to the incident and was treated as a false alarm.
Airline Statement on Technical Issue
EasyJet says there was a "technical issue" with the Airbus A321, which meant it could not fly as planned, with today's flight cancelled. The airline described the emergency service response as "a precaution only".
An easyJet spokesperson told the M.E.N: "Flight EZY9143 from Manchester to Dalaman was unable to operate on 20 August due to a technical issue with the aircraft. The aircraft was met by emergency services as a precaution only, and customers disembarked normally.
"Unfortunately, the technical issue meant the flight could not operate as planned. Customers have been provided with hotel accommodation and meals where required and are expected to continue their journey to Dalaman on Friday 21 August on a replacement aircraft.
"We are sorry for any inconvenience this will have caused and did all we could to minimise the impact of the disruption.
"The safety of our customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority, and easyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers’ guidelines."
