Ryanair Flight FR6494 Encounters Smoke Issue Shortly After Departure from Agadir
On October 28, a Ryanair flight, designated FR6494, which had just departed from Agadir en route to Marseille, faced a significant incident that forced it to return to the airport shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 737-800, operated by Malta Air, took off but was compelled to turn back when the crew detected smoke or fumes at an altitude of approximately 2,130 meters. This decision to abort the ascent and return to Al-Massira Airport meant that the journey for the passengers had essentially ended before it even began.
According to air traffic data, the aircraft, registered as 9H-QAI, covered a distance of about 270 kilometers over the course of 37 minutes of flight time. It safely landed back on runway 27 at Agadir without any further incidents reported. However, the ramifications of this occurrence were far-reaching, as the flight to Marseille was subsequently cancelled, leaving passengers stranded.
Boeing Grounded for Over Twenty Hours
The situation worsened as the Boeing remained grounded in Agadir for over twenty-one hours following its unscheduled return. Reports from Airportia indicated that even after the aircraft had landed, it was still not operational, raising concerns about the nature of the fumes that had triggered the emergency response. Initial reports did not clarify the specific cause of the detected emissions, but it was noted that an alert was raised during ascent, prompting the crew’s quick decision to return.
This incident is not an isolated one, as there have been previous occurrences involving Ryanair flights between Morocco and Europe that were interrupted shortly after takeoff due to technical issues. For instance, in March 2025, another Ryanair flight from Manchester to Agadir had to return to its point of departure because of a technical problem, although in that case, a replacement aircraft was provided to allow passengers to continue their journey. Unfortunately, for the passengers of the Agadir-Marseille flight on October 28, the decision was more drastic, leading to the cancellation of their travel plans entirely.
As reported by bladi.net.
