South Korean passenger plane catches fire, 176 people evacuated

A South Korean passenger plane caught fire just before takeoff at Gimhae International Airport in Busan on January 28 night, forcing the evacuation of 176 people on board.

The Air Busan flight, which was scheduled to depart for Hong Kong, experienced a fire in its tail section, Caliber.Az reports via  Russian media.

The aircraft, carrying 169 passengers and seven crew members, was evacuated via inflatable slides. Emergency responders were able to clear the plane of all occupants safely. Three individuals sustained minor injuries during the evacuation, though their condition was reported as not serious.

Authorities in Busan have not yet commented on the incident, as calls to local fire departments went unanswered. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported.

This incident comes just a month after a deadly crash involving a Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport. On December 29, a Boeing 737-800, returning from Bangkok, failed to deploy its landing gear and skidded off the runway before slamming into a concrete structure and bursting into flames. Of the 181 people on board, only two survived, with the majority of victims being South Korean nationals.

The cause of the Air Busan fire is currently under investigation, and authorities are working to determine whether it was caused by a mechanical issue or an external factor.

By Vafa Guliyeva