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This is the moment chaos ensued on an easyJet flight from Crete to London Gatwick after a ‘vape explosion’ forced a hasty evacuation before takeoff.
Terrifying video showed chaotic scenes on Tuesday as passengers scrambled into the central aisle before disembarking via the inflatable slide, surrounded by officials.
Witnesses said ‘a very large red flash and flame’ caused the commotion before panicked passengers started screaming ‘bomb!’
Staff believe e-cigarettes and a power bank inside a carry-on likely caused ‘popping noises’ and ‘thick black smoke’ to fill the cabin during boarding.
All 236 on board were forced back off the plane, guided by emergency services, and passengers were left to wait some nine hours for the next flight home.
There was chaos inside the cabin as people were told to get off the aeroplane
Passengers used the emergency slide to disembark the plane in Crete
Terrifying video showed chaotic scenes as passengers scrambled into the central aisle before disembarking
The doors of the plane opened and evacuation slides were activated for passengers to exit
A power bank and e-cigarettes in a passenger’s bag started smoking before the explosion
Video obtained by MailOnline shows a passenger clutching a bag and a phone as they were led to exit the plane at Crete airport via the emergency slide.
Officials in hi-vis jackets stood by to help passengers back off the plane at Heraklion.
Passengers were safely off the plane within ‘minutes’ but the flight to London was cancelled.
A flight was later chartered, leaving for London after 11pm.
Passengers described their horror as a fire broke out on board the plane, fearing for the worst.
‘Fire and acrid smoke billowed from the bag, popping exploding noises, smoke filled the cabin around the bag,’ one eyewitness said.
A passenger told MailOnline they heard someone asking ‘what is that what is that’ as she took her seat, seconds before the explosion occurred.
Passengers were ‘screaming bomb and clattering to get out’ as panic broke out, with some saying a ‘lady with a vape in her bum bag was waving it around as smoke started to come out’.
One said the woman with the bag was British and tried to leave the plane, asking people to get out of the way.
But as her bag caught fire, she dropped it in the aisle as people were still trying to take their seats.
There was a fire scorch mark left on floor, but travellers were later allowed back on plane to collect belongings.
MailOnline understands no customers suffered burn injuries from the explosion, but one passenger suffered a friction burn from the evacuation slide.
An emergency evacuation took place on a runway in Greece when an explosion took place in Heraklion, on the craft scheduled to fly to London Gatwick tonight
A power bank and e-cigarettes in a passenger’s bag (pictured next to the plane and emergency services) are thought to be the cause of the explosion which occurred shortly before take-off
The doors of the plane opened and evacuation slides were activated, with passengers describing ‘a very large red flash and flame followed by thick black smoke’
MailOnline understands no customers suffered burn injuries from the explosion
‘EasyJet have kept us up to date with the replacement flight, which we are boarding now, they gave us a voucher to get food,’ another said.
‘All the staff have been very helpful and it was as painless as it could be given the circumstances.’
Police forces rushed to the scene to investigate the incident.
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘easyJet can confirm that flight EZY8216 from Heraklion to London Gatwick was evacuated during boarding prior to departure, due to a fire in a passenger’s cabin bag.
‘Fire services attended the aircraft and cabin crew evacuated the aircraft in line with procedures.
‘Customers are currently being looked after in the terminal and a replacement aircraft and crew have been arranged to fly customers home later today. Safety is our highest priority.’
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