A plane carrying the Manchester City football club staff and media were evacuated before takeoff after reports of smoke in the cabin. Passengers were ordered to leave the chartered aircraft are being prepared to fly from the airport to Romania ahead of Tuesday’s game between City and Steaua Bucharest
An aircraft carrying Manchester City staff and media to a Champions League match was evacuated before take-off after reports of smoke in the cabin.
Passengers were ordered to leave the chartered plane as it was being prepared to fly from the airport to Romania ahead of Tuesday’s clash between City and Steaua Bucharest.
The flight was being operated by Romania-based charter airline company Carpatair.
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: “It appears that there was a smell of smoke in the cabin after [the passengers] boarded, so they have been taken back to the departure lounge.” No players were on board, according to reports.
Champions League organisers UEFA confirmed that another charter flight, carrying players and coaching staff, had already arrived in the Romanian capital.
Manager Pep Guardiola was due to hold a news conference at Bucharest’s Arena Nationala, where the match will be held, at 3:30 p.m. BST.
There were no plans to delay the media commitment. Tuesday’s game is the first leg of a two-legged playoff, with the winners securing a place in the group stages.
City reached the semifinals of the competition last season and opened their new campaign with a 2-1 win over Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.
Source: espnfc.com
