Pilot First to Escape After Explosion, Leaving Passengers on their Own as Smoke Filled Airplane

SPAIN (VINnews)  A commercial pilot escaped an airplane following an explosion, before passengers were able to flee, according to a witness.

A loud explosion took place in the passenger jet, and smoke filled the aircraft. In response, flight attendants started to panic and run down the aisle, and one of them warned the captain.

When the the front door opened, the captain, along with most of the crew, were the first to flee the airplane, leaving passengers to fend for themselves.

Passenger Andrew Benion told The Sun that the Vueling flight was heading from Barcelona to Birmingham in the UK.

“It was completely shocking. Suddenly there was this huge bang and smell of burning smoke coming from the back of the plane,” he said, adding “all the lights went off and the emergency lights came on – it was terrifying.””

Benion said the only flight attendant who actually remained on the plane “started screaming for everyone to get off. The Spanish person next to us translated and said, ‘the plane is on fire’.”

He added: “We couldn’t believe the captain just left us like that – he was running off to safety and we were all sat there like lemmings.”