A routine flight from Busan to Hong Kong turned chaotic Tuesday night when an Air Busan aircraft caught fire just before takeoff.
While all 176 people onboard managed to escape, four passengers sustained injuries during the emergency evacuation.
According to South Korean news outlet Yonhap, the incident occurred at Gimhae International Airport in Busan at approximately 10:26 p.m. when flames were spotted at the tail of the Airbus A321-200. The aircraft, operated by Air Busan, was preparing for departure when the situation escalated.
Fire authorities arrived at the scene within minutes, fully extinguishing the blaze by 11:31 p.m.
Passengers and crew, including a maintenance worker, were forced to evacuate via inflatable slides.
Though initial reports indicated no injuries, fire officials later confirmed that four individuals had been hurt while escaping. Two of them required hospital treatment, though their injuries were not life-threatening.
Authorities have yet to determine what sparked the fire, though officials believe it originated within the tail section before spreading toward the fuselage. Investigators are expected to examine maintenance records and aircraft components to identify the root cause.
Air Busan, a South Korean low-cost carrier, had maintained a strong safety record with no reported accidents over the past 12 years.
The airline has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
