A fire destroyed an Air Busan plane at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea on Tuesday night (January 28), forcing an emergency evacuation. The Airbus A321 was preparing to depart for Hong Kong when the blaze erupted near the tail of the aircraft. All 176 people onboard, including 169 passengers, six crew members, and one engineer, were safely evacuated using the plane's emergency slides. Three individuals sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.
Dramatic footage captured the plane engulfed in flames on the tarmac as firefighters worked swiftly to extinguish the fire. The fire was brought under control by 11:31 p.m., about an hour after emergency services arrived on the scene. The cause of the fire remains unclear, and an investigation is underway.
This incident comes just weeks after a tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport, where a Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway, resulting in 179 fatalities. The crash was attributed to a landing gear malfunction, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in South Korea's history. In light of these events, South Korean officials have urged airlines to prioritize safety, emphasizing the need for increased pilot training and maintenance.
Air Busan, a South Korean low-cost carrier, operates both domestic and international flights from Busan. The Transport Ministry has not yet released further details about the fire's origin, but the incident has raised concerns about safety standards in the country's aviation industry.