Boeing Jet Catches Fire Before Takeoff, Causing Airport Shutdown

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Almost 200 passengers were evacuated from the Boeing jet as walls of flame erupted from one of the engines, according to video shared on X's (formerly Twitter) programs.

The incident occurred shortly before takeoff of a Boeing 737 operated by Ryanair at Italy's Brindisi Airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Smoke filled the cabin as the crew quickly intervened and evacuated the jet, but not before a passenger captured footage of flames licking the plane's window.

“Flight FR8826 from Brindisi to Turin was delayed this morning after cabin crew observed smoke outside the aircraft,” Ryanair said in a statement (via Reuters). “Passengers were deplaned without incident and sent back to the terminal by buses.”

Each of the 184 passengers was transported to Turin on a spare Ryanair aircraft.

“The issue occurred while aligning the aircraft at head height for takeoff, requiring the evacuation of passengers via emergency slides,” the airport said in its own statement. “All operations were carried out to ensure maximum safety for passengers and crew.”

Brindisi Airport, which was closed for a short time after the incident, reopened later in the morning. The airport said the closure was “necessary” to ensure the safety of other passengers.

Just two days ago, the tires of another Ryanair Boeing 737 burst as it landed at Milan's Bergamo Oro al Serio International Airport. While there was damage to the runway, each of the passengers was evacuated without injury.

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