A total of 176 individuals were forced to evacuate from the Air Busan aircraft, facing injuries during the emergency when flames erupted at the plane's tail moments before departure.
South Korea Deals with Another Plane Emergency: Fire Forces Evacuation of Airbus
South Korea Deals with Another Plane Emergency: Fire Forces Evacuation of Airbus
A shocking incident at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, as an Airbus catches fire before takeoff.
An alarming incident occurred at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, on Tuesday evening when an Airbus operated by Air Busan caught fire, leading to a mass evacuation of all 176 occupants, including 169 passengers and seven crew members.
The fire reportedly began at the rear of the aircraft around 22:26 local time (13:26 GMT) just as the plane was preparing for its Hong Kong flight. Emergency services arrived promptly, dousing the flames that spread to the fuselage within eight minutes of the initial reports.
Four individuals sustained injuries during their escape via inflatable slides, illustrating the chaos that ensued on board. Photos circulating on social media depict the flaming aircraft being targeted by the firefighting teams.
This incident follows a devastating aviation tragedy in South Korea less than a month earlier, where a Jeju Air flight crash-landed at Muan airport, resulting in a staggering 179 fatalities, with only two survivors reported.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire that prompted this latest emergency, and they will be scrutinizing Air Busan, the low-cost carrier behind the flight, which is a subsidiary of Asiana Airlines.
Gimhae International Airport is situated approximately 315 kilometers (195 miles) southeast of Seoul, South Korea's capital, marking yet another incident that raises concerns over aviation safety in the region.
