Fire Erupts on Air Busan Flight at Gimhae International Airport

An Airbus A321ceo operated by Air Busan experienced a fire incident on the runway of Gimhae International Airport in South Korea as it was set to take off for Hong Kong, according to fire authorities. The evacuation process was swift, with all 169 passengers and seven crew members safely exited from the aircraft, although three individuals sustained minor injuries in the chaotic situation.

Reports from South Korea’s Yonhap agency indicated that the fire started within the tail section of the aircraft. Local news footage captured the deployment of evacuation slides on both sides of the plane, showcasing emergency personnel as they battled the smoke and flames emanating from the aircraft's body. Subsequent images revealed significant damage, with charred holes visible along the roof of the fuselage.

This incident comes just a month after the catastrophic Jeju Air crash, which claimed almost all lives on board during a failed emergency landing at Muan airport. Air Busan, which is part of Asiana Airlines, recently underwent an acquisition by Korean Air last December. Airbus confirmed receipt of information regarding the fire and is currently communicating with Air Busan, while neither Air Busan nor Asiana replied to the media's request for comments. The aircraft involved was identified as a 17-year-old Airbus model, bearing the tail number HL7763, as per records from the Aviation Safety Network.