Jet2 plane from Spain's Alicante evacuated on landing in Blackpool

BRITISH holidaymakers flying home from Alicante, Spain, had to use a jet’s emergency chutes to evacuate after smoke billowed from its brakes on touchdown.

The smoke was spotted by air traffic controllers who advised the pilot to order an emergency evacuation as a precaution. There were some reports of cuts and bruises to passengers in the incident, although airline Jet2 said everyone was “evacuated safely” after the Boeing 737-330 touched down at Blackpool airport.

A Jet2 spokesman told local paper the Blackpool Gazette: “The captain was advised to evacuate flight LS740 from Alicante as a precautionary measure after Blackpool Airport air traffic control spotted smoke coming from the brakes on landing.

All passengers evacuated safely and are being cared for by our team at the airport. A full investigation is now underway.”

On June 4 another Jet2 flight had to divert to Bulgaria’s Sofia airport an hour after taking off from Paphos in Cyprus after suffering a rapid descent, losing thousands of feet in altitude in minutes. Oxygen masks were deployed on the flight destined for Newcastle. A Jet2 spokesman apologised and said the plane was diverted as a “precautionary measure.”