A Ryanair Boeing passenger jet caught fire while taxiing for takeoff at Brindisi Airport in southern Italy on Thursday, leading to the evacuation of 184 passengers and crew.
The incident, which halted air traffic for several hours, comes just two days after another Ryanair Boeing aircraft experienced a tire blowout during landing at Milan Bergamo Airport.
Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget airline, stated that the Brindisi flight bound for Turin was delayed after cabin crew observed fumes outside the aircraft. “Passengers were disembarked without incident and returned to the terminal by bus,” the airline said in a statement.
The airport reopened approximately three hours later, according to its website. Ryanair reported that passengers were later flown to their destination on a replacement aircraft.
These incidents have prompted Italian lawmakers to call for an inquiry into Ryanair’s safety record. Andrea Caroppo and Mauro D’Attis, members of Italy’s ruling coalition, have requested a senate hearing with the National Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC).
“This morning, at Brindisi airport, a new accident occurred, yet another, on a Ryanair plane,” Caroppo, who is vice president of the Transport Commission in Italy’s lower house of parliament, said in a joint statement with colleagues.
The lawmakers cited previous incidents involving Ryanair flights, including a May incident where a flight from Bari to London had to turn back due to technical problems, and another where a Bologna to Brussels flight made an emergency landing in Luxembourg because of an onboard fire.
“These are just some of the many, too many accidents that have involved Ryanair in recent months, in Italy and Europe,” the statement added.
Ryanair did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawmakers’ statement. Boeing, the manufacturer of both aircraft involved in this week’s incidents, referred inquiries to Ryanair.
ENAC, Italy’s aviation authority, confirmed it is investigating both incidents separately.
