Airbus 320 evacuated after plane crashed into a TOW TRUCK at Manchester Airport

A passenger plane bound for Barcelona crashed into a tow truck at Manchester Airport on Saturday morning, forcing the entire aircraft to be evacuated.

Dramatic photographs from the scene shows the Airbus 320’s nose resting on the roof of the truck’s cab, which was pushed forward by the impact.

Firefighters and other emergency services were scrambled to the scene to help evacuate the passengers on Vueling flight VY8749.

According to a witness at the scene, the plane was full of passengers at the time.

OxBlue Billy said on Twitter: ‘My plane at Manchester Airport has just crashed in to a tow truck….expecting a long delay, probably effect other flights.’

Joshua Bedson, who was on board at the time, tweeted: ‘The tow vehicle had issues and the plane didn’t stop when the tow stopped.’

‘The plane had a slice where the top of the tow vehicle actually went through the plane.’

The tow truck involved was said to be used as part of the ‘pushback manoeuvre’ to help guide the plane away from the terminal.

It is thought that a pin that connected the tow truck to the plane snapped while the aircraft was still on the apron, which meant that the truck rammed into the stationary aircraft.

A Vueling spokesman told MailOnline Travel: ‘It appears that a technical fault occurred whilst the tow truck was manoeuvring the aircraft, resulting in the tow truck backing into the aircraft.

‘All the passengers were disembarked and an alternative plane was found shortly afterwards to take the passengers onto their destination.

‘At this moment further details as to the cause are unknown but we are investigating the matter and the aircraft is being inspected by our maintenance teams.’

Manchester Airport issued a statement shortly after the incident.

It said: ‘This morning’s issue with the Vueling aircraft did not cause a delay in the airport’s operations.

‘All flights arrived and departed at their scheduled time.

‘The passengers who were due to fly out this morning to Barcelona will be taken this afternoon on a replacement aircraft, which has now arrived at the airport.’

A full investigation is expected to be launched but no injuries were reported.

Credit: Daily Mail