What happened
On May 12, 2021, at approximately 23:30 local time, a Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS, registration EI-EGA, was parked at stand 16 of Alicante-Elche Airport following a flight from Gothenburg. During the disembarkation process via the aircraft's integrated forward airstairs, a passenger attempted to descend while carrying two pieces of hand luggage.
As the passenger moved down the stairs, one of the bags became wedged in the steps. This caused the passenger to lose their balance. Because both hands were occupied by the luggage, the passenger was unable to grasp the handrail, resulting in a fall. The passenger struck another passenger who was already further down the stairs. The incident resulted in one serious injury, involving a broken arm and head lacerations requiring sutures.
Following the fall, the cabin crew halted the disembarkation and redirected the remaining passengers to use the rear exit. Ground personnel provided immediate assistance, and an ambulance arrived at the aircraft within approximately nine minutes to transport the injured individual to a local hospital.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the safety features of the aircraft's integrated airstairs, the airline's disembarkation procedures, and the passenger's actions. The investigation noted that the aircraft was equipped with several safety enhancements, including non-slip material (3M Safety Walk 710) on the treads, visual safety barriers, and removable handrail aids. The aircraft also displayed warning signs advising passengers to hold children's hands and to use the handrails.
Investigators reviewed Ryanair's standard disembarkation announcements, which are delivered in English, instructing passengers to use the handrails. The investigation also looked into the physical dimensions of the airstairs, noting a width of approximately 0.62 meters, which is sufficient for a person with a single bag but insufficient for someone carrying two bags separated from their body.
Findings
- The passenger ignored disembarkation instructions by attempting to descend the stairs with a bag in each hand.
- Carrying two bags prevented the passenger from using the handrail to stabilize themselves after losing balance.
- The width of the integrated stairs was insufficient to accommodate the passenger's movement while carrying two pieces of luggage, leading to one bag becoming stuck.
- While the aircraft had implemented various safety measures, the passenger's actions directly led to the loss of stability.