Flybe promises to refund and compensate passengers following emergency evacuation
Flybe has promised to refund 100 passengers who were forced to flee from an aircraft after the cabin filled with smoke at Exeter Airport.
The incident meant the runway had to be closed for around an hour shortly before 8am on Thursday.
The passengers and five crew had to escape from flight BE4321 down the inflatable slides.
The aircraft had been due to depart for Alicante in Spain at 7.45am, but take-off was aborted after air in the cabin of the Embraer jet became ‘hazy’.
Flybe~said in a statement that ‘crew took the necessary precautionary measures and all 100 passengers and five crew members evacuated the aircraft safely’.
It added: "We are taking the situation very seriously and our immediate concern is for the welfare of all those involved."
All passengers were returned to the airport terminal by 8am, while the runway was closed for around an hour.
An alternative aircraft was sourced to fly the passengers to Alicante several hours later.
The airline said all of them had been issued with information to claim a refund for their flight in addition to compensation for the delay.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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