Incredible photo shows the moment passengers were forced to escape onto the plane's WING at US airport after fumes spread through cabin when it landed

  • Plane carrying 163 passengers landed at Boise Airport from Los Angeles
  • People on board low cost carrier Allegiant Air reported seeing fumes and smoke in cabin
  • Smell was so strong, it was even detected by people waiting in terminal 

By John Hutchinson for MailOnline

Published: 07:08 EST, 14 June 2015 | Updated: 07:35 EST, 14 June 2015

Passengers were forced to escape onto the wing of an Allegiant Air plane after fumes leaked into the cabin on landing.

The worrying incident happened after Flight 330 had landed at Boise Airport in Idaho, U.S. from Los Angeles.

Passengers on the low-cost carrier reported smoke and a smell of fuel began to spread through the cabin as the plane taxied to the gate.

As the smell of fumes on board the Allegiant Air plane, passengers were forced to escape onto the wing

As the smell of fumes on board the Allegiant Air plane, passengers were forced to escape onto the wing

Speaking to the Idaho Statesman, Blanca Robles, who was a passenger on the plane, said: 'When the plane started descending you could start smelling the (fuel). When we landed it started getting stronger.' 

Another passenger, Kelly Graf, added: 'You only have whatever is in the cabin (for) air and all that was coming in was gasoline. I was trying to breathe through my sweater. 

'Realistically I didn't know how much longer I could stand there without getting sick.'

The plane had 163 passengers and six crew members on board. 

The smell was said to have been so powerful it was even detected by people waiting inside the terminal (file photo)

The smell was said to have been so powerful it was even detected by people waiting inside the terminal (file photo)

Jacquelyn Jones, who was waiting in the terminal to fly out from Boise to California, described how the smell could be detected even indoors.

'The smell inside the waiting area was very strong and burning my throat and nose,' she told ABC News in an email. 

'Passengers were very upset.' 

Nicki Huges, who was on board the plane, told the news channel that people were struggling to breathe, and that she had seen vapour in the cabin.  

A spokesperson for Allegiant Air told MailOnline Travel: 'At Allegiant the safety of our passengers and employees is our number one priority. 

'Upon arrival at the gate, normal deplaning procedures were in progress during which a fuel smell was observed within the cabin. Passengers then initiated an evacuation through the over wing doors. 

'A review of the incident confirmed that at no time were the passengers or crew members on board the plane in danger.' 

As the investigations continued into what caused the leak, a replacement plane was brought in for the return flight to Los Angeles, delaying passengers by over five hours. 

The Allegiant Air spokesman added: 'Passengers on Flight 331 have been issued $50 vouchers for future travel.'

 

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