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Passengers reported “popping noises and smoke” as an EasyJet plane was thrown into panic today after a bag containing an e-cigarette exploded on the London-bound flight.
An emergency evacuation was underway on a runway in Greece when an explosion occurred in Heraklion on a plane scheduled to fly to London Gatwick.
A power bank and e-cigarettes in a passenger’s bag are believed to be the cause of the explosion that occurred shortly before takeoff.
The plane’s doors opened and evacuation slides were activated; passengers described “a very large red flash and flame followed by thick black smoke.”
An emergency evacuation was underway at a runway in Greece when an explosion occurred in Heraklion, on the plane due to fly to London Gatwick this evening.
A power bank and e-cigarettes in a passenger’s bag (pictured alongside the plane and emergency services) are believed to be the cause of the explosion which occurred shortly before take-off.
A power bank and e-cigarettes in a passenger’s bag began to smoke before the explosion
The passengers were safely off the plane within ‘minutes’, but the flight to London was cancelled.
Instead, the 236 passengers, including two children, were forced to take another plane this afternoon.
One passenger told MailOnline she heard someone ask ‘what’s that, what’s that?’ as she took her seat, seconds before the explosion occurred.
Passengers were “yelling ‘bomb’ and making noise to get out” as panic broke out, with some saying “a lady with a vape pen in her fanny pack was waving it around as smoke began to come out.”
One said the woman with the bag was British and tried to leave the plane, asking people to get out of her way.
But when her bag caught fire, she dropped it in the aisle while people were still trying to take their seats.
A burn mark was left on the ground, but the passengers were later allowed to return to the plane to collect their belongings.
MailOnline understands that no customers were burned by the explosion, but one passenger suffered a friction burn on the evacuation slide.
The plane’s doors opened and evacuation slides were activated, with passengers describing “a very large red flash and flame followed by thick black smoke.”
MailOnline understands that no customers suffered burns in the explosion.
Police forces attended the scene to investigate the incident.
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘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 hand luggage.
‘Fire services attended the aircraft and the cabin crew evacuated the aircraft following procedures.
“Customers are currently being served in the terminal and a replacement aircraft and crew have been arranged to return customers home later today. Safety is our top priority.”