A fire erupted on an Air Busan passenger plane at Gimhae Airport in Busan, South Korea, prompting a swift evacuation of all 176 people on board.
The incident occurred on an Airbus A321, a low-cost carrier scheduled to depart for Hong Kong. Footage shared on social media platforms shows smoke billowing from the rear of the aircraft while it remained on the tarmac.
Thanks to the prompt activation of smoke detectors, the crew and passengers were alerted to the fire, allowing for a safe and orderly evacuation. While the situation was undoubtedly alarming, all individuals on board were able to exit the plane without serious injury. News reports indicate that only one person sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.
This incident comes just a month after a series of other aviation accidents in South Korea, raising concerns about the safety record of the country’s airline industry. A recent Jeju Air Boeing 737 crash at Muan International Airport resulted in fatalities, and another crash involving an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E-190 occurred just days after Christmas.
The Air Busan fire is sure to prompt further investigation and scrutiny of safety protocols within the South Korean aviation sector. Authorities will be working to determine the cause of the fire and implement measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.