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
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive