A South Korean Air Busan Airbus A321 caught fire on Tuesday night at Gimhae International Airport while preparing for departure to Hong Kong, fire authorities reported.
The incident occurred just before 10:30 p.m., with flames originating in the plane's tail section, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. Emergency crews were alerted promptly and managed to evacuate all 169 passengers and seven crew members onboard. Three individuals sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.
Emergency Response
Footage broadcast by YTN showed evacuation slides deployed on both sides of the single-aisle aircraft, as emergency personnel worked to contain smoke and flames. Later visuals from Yonhap revealed extensive damage, including burned-out sections along the fuselage roof.
The aircraft, a 17-year-old Airbus A321ceo with tail number HL7763, is part of Air Busan’s fleet. The airline is a subsidiary of South Korea’s Asiana Airlines, which was recently acquired by Korean Air.
Ongoing Investigation
Planemaker Airbus confirmed awareness of the incident and stated it is in contact with Air Busan. The airline and its parent company, Asiana Airlines, have yet to issue public statements. Korean Air redirected all inquiries to Air Busan.
Broader Context
This incident follows a month after South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster in recent history. A Jeju Air flight from Bangkok crashed during an emergency belly landing at Muan International Airport, resulting in 179 fatalities out of 181 passengers and crew onboard.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the Air Busan fire as part of ongoing efforts to ensure passenger safety and prevent future occurrences.
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