A dramatic scene unfolded at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea on Tuesday night when a plane caught fire before takeoff.
The Air Busan flight, bound for Hong Kong, had 176 people on board, including 169 passengers and 7 crew members.
Luckily, everyone was evacuated safely down escape slides, but not before the rear of the Airbus A321 was engulfed in flames.
What Happened?
The fire started at around 10:15 pm local time, but the cause of the blaze is still unknown.
The South Korean Transport Ministry is investigating the incident, which is the second major aviation incident in the country in just a month.
Three people suffered minor injuries, and the fire was completely extinguished by 11:31 pm.
Aftermath of the Fire
Pictures taken after the fire was put out show the entire roof of the fuselage was badly burnt, with the top of the plane blackened and charred. It’s a miracle that everyone on board was able to evacuate safely.
Recent Aviation Incidents in South Korea
This incident comes just a month after the deadly Jeju Air disaster, which occurred on December 29.
A Boeing 737-800 crashed at Muan International Airport, killing 179 people and leaving only two survivors.
The cause of that crash is still being investigated, with possible causes including a bird strike, faulty landing gear, and a concrete barrier on the runway.
Investigation into the Jeju Air Crash
A preliminary investigation into the Jeju Air crash found that bird feathers and bloodstains were present in both engines of the plane.
The pilots had identified a group of birds while approaching the runway, and a security camera captured the plane coming close to the birds during a go-around.
However, it’s still unclear whether the engines had stopped working before the crash.
We’ll continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
In the meantime, our thoughts are with the passengers and crew of the Air Busan flight, as well as the families of those affected by the Jeju Air disaster.