Israeli woman in serious condition after falling out of passenger jet

An Israeli woman is in a serious condition after falling out of the doorway of a passenger jet during a chaotic evacuation when passengers became alarmed at smoke in the cabin and rushed to the emergency exits.

Dikla Abitbul, 38, a mother of two from the central city of Lod who was on a five-day holiday in Hungary organized by her work. She is being treated in a Budapest hospital where she has been since the incident happened last Friday, at the start of her return flight from Ferenc Liszt International Airport to Tel Aviv.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6waRqO-lgBo

Abitbul’s mother, Riki Sapirin, says that her daughter is sedated and on respiration after having undergone surgery.

In addition to her head injuries, Abitbul has broken ribs and her arms are in plaster, Sapirin said, speaking from Budapest where she had joined her daughter.

The incident happened as the plane was taxiing in preparation for the flight to Tel Aviv. An airport towing tug emitted thick smoke that was sucked into the cabin by the plane’s air-conditioning system. Although the pilot repeatedly announced to passengers that the smoke was coming from outside and that there was no danger, those on board apparently left their seats and rushed the doors.