Air Busan Aircraft Catches Fire on Runway at Gimhae International Airport
A South Korean Air Busan aircraft caught fire on the runway at Gimhae International Airport while preparing for takeoff to Hong Kong, according to fire officials on Tuesday.
All 169 passengers and seven crew members were safely evacuated, though three individuals sustained minor injuries, Busan fire authorities confirmed. The fire originated in the aircraft’s tail section.
Evacuation slides were deployed on both sides of the narrow-body jet, while emergency responders worked to extinguish the smoke and flames. Later, visuals revealed significant fire damage, with burnt-out holes visible along the fuselage roof.
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus stated that it was aware of the incident and was coordinating with Air Busan.
The aircraft involved in the fire was identified as a 17-year-old Airbus A321ceo, registered under tail number HL7763, as reported by the Aviation Safety Network, a respected database maintained by the Flight Safety Foundation.
Photo credit: ONHAP/HYUNG-JOO SON. All rights reserved.