Photo: JASON REDMOND / AFP / Getty Images
A brand new Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft, carrying 160 passengers, was evacuated at Krakow Airport in Poland on Sunday (October 12) after smoke was detected in the cabin and cockpit. The flight, destined for Bristol, England, was taxiing for departure when the crew noticed the smoke and ordered an emergency evacuation using the plane's slides.
The aircraft, registered as EI-ILN, was delivered to Ryanair on September 30, 2025, from Boeing's Renton facility in Washington. The plane, which can seat up to 197 passengers, is part of Ryanair's new high-density fleet designed for increased capacity and fuel efficiency. All passengers were safely evacuated without injuries, and the aircraft was towed back to its stand for inspection.
The cause of the smoke is still under investigation, and Ryanair has yet to release an official statement on the incident.
"The causes of the incident are currently unknown. The passengers have been returned to the terminal, and the aircraft is currently being inspected by the authorities," a spokesperson for the airport said.
This incident comes after a previous evacuation incident involving Ryanair in July, where passengers were injured during an emergency evacuation at Palma de Mallorca Airport due to a false cockpit alert.