A harrowing incident at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea on January 28 has left seven people injured after a passenger plane caught fire while preparing for takeoff.
The Air Busan aircraft, which was set to fly to Hong Kong, erupted in flames on the runway, triggering a mass evacuation of all 169 passengers and seven crew members aboard.
The fire, which reportedly started in the plane’s tail section just before 10:30 p.m. local time, quickly spread to the fuselage, causing significant damage.
In a dramatic scene captured on video, passengers were seen exiting the plane via inflatable evacuation slides, running for safety as large flames billowed from the aircraft.
Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the blaze, with footage showing them battling the flames for several minutes after the evacuation.
READ ALSO: Taylor Santiago Charged After Killing Ex-Husband, Injuring Man in Shooting Spree
Initially, authorities reported that three people had been injured, but that number later rose to seven, according to the Yonhap news agency.
Fortunately, all injuries were minor, and none of the passengers or crew members were in critical condition.
Photos taken after the fire show significant damage to the plane, with large burned-out sections along the roof. Emergency responders have since contained the fire, but the scene left many shaken by the terrifying ordeal.
Air Busan, the airline involved, has yet to comment on the incident.
However, plane manufacturer Airbus confirmed they were aware of the situation and are in contact with Air Busan to assist in the investigation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities focusing on possible technical issues or external factors.
As emergency services continue to probe the cause of the fire, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers that can occur in air travel.
The safety of passengers, however, remains the top priority, and this swift evacuation undoubtedly helped prevent a far worse disaster.
