Flights to and from Glasgow airport suspended

Flights to and from Glasgow Airport in Scotland have been suspended after an emergency evacuation of a plane on the runway, it was announced Friday. The captain of an Alicante-bound Jet2 aircraft declared an emergency early today, the airport said. It is believed smoke had been detected in the cabin. Passengers and crew left the aircraft using the emergency exits. Its is thought at least four people were slightly injured during the evacuation. The runway remains closed and incoming flights have been diverted. The Boeing 737 was preparing to take off to Alicante, Spain, when the captain instigated an emergency stop on the runway. All 189 passengers were taken off the plane - four of whom are understood to have been injured using the emergency chute, including an elderly woman. Crews from the Fire and Rescue were called out to assist firefighters based at the airport. A Police spokeswoman said: "We are currently dealing with an ongoing incident at Glasgow Airport involving a 737 aircraft following reports of smoke within the cabin. "Emergency services are in attendance and the passengers have been evacuated as a precaution." A statement from the airport said: "This morning's flight LS177 from Glasgow Airport to Alicante made an emergency stop on the runway just prior to take-off. "The aircraft was forced to curtail take-off due to smoke in the cabin. "All 189 passengers have disembarked the aircraft." It is believed that 12 departures - mostly international flights - have been delayed by the incident. Six arrivals have been diverted to Edinburgh Airport.