Key Highlights:

• An Airbus A321 operated by Air Busan caught fire before takeoff from Gimhae International Airport in South Korea.
• All 176 people on board were safely evacuated, though some sustained minor injuries.
• The incident comes a month after South Korea's worst aviation disaster, which claimed 179 lives.

On January 28, an Air Busan Airbus aircraft caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea, prompting the evacuation of all 169 passengers and seven crew members onboard. The fire erupted shortly before the flight was scheduled to depart for Hong Kong around 10:30 PM local time. Fire authorities reported that the blaze started in the tail of the plane, with smoke and flames visible from both sides of the aircraft, as emergency workers employed inflatable slides for evacuation (SCMP).

Despite a swift response from firefighters, who arrived in under ten minutes, four individuals experienced injuries, including smoke inhalation and back pain from the evacuation process (BBC). Photographs captured the aircraft engulfed in flames. The incident stirred memories of a tragic air disaster that occurred a month earlier, resulting in 179 fatalities (The Guardian).

Airbus acknowledged awareness of the situation and has committed to cooperating with Air Busan throughout the investigation (Newsweek). Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire, with authorities focused on examining the aircraft’s electrical systems and regulations regarding carry-on luggage (CNN).

For more details, please reference the original reports from Reuters.