An Air Busan passenger plane caught fire before takeoff at Gimhae International Airport, but all 176 people on board were safely evacuated, authorities said. The Airbus plane was preparing to leave for Hong Kong when its rear parts caught fire around 10:26 PM local time on January 28, 2025. The Transport Ministry confirmed 169 passengers, six crew members, and one engineer were evacuated using escape slides. Minor injuries were reported.
According to the National Fire Agency of South Korea, the fire was extinguished shortly after the responders arrived on the scene, around 11:31 PM, roughly one hour after the alarm was raised. The cause of the fire remains unknown, with investigations underway by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The incident follows only weeks after the devastating crash of another passenger plane, leading to heightened scrutiny of safety protocols within South Korean carriers. Minimized incidents related to this flight were raised quickly after the nationwide concern about flight safety became apparent.
Choi Sang-mok, the acting President and Finance Minister, emphasized the need for prompt investigations, stating, “With some passengers even having suffered injuries... swift follow-up measures are called for.” This urgency reflects concerns about passenger safety amid increasing incidents linked to electronic devices, especially lithium-ion batteries from smartphones and power banks.
Eyewitness accounts provided alarming insights from the cabin. A passenger noted, “There was a crackling sound coming from the overhead luggage compartment, followed shortly by smoke.” This led to chaos, as another individual reported hearing shouts of 'Fire!' and seeing smoke filling the rest of the cabin.
Despite the initial response from the flight crew to manage the fire with extinguishers, passengers described the procedures as chaotic. “The chaos... escalated as some were busy trying to grab their luggage...,” recounted one affected traveler. Such reactions highlight the overwhelming atmosphere during the evacuation, whereby passengers pushed to escape, leaving behind their belongings.
The crew's instructions reportedly failed to guide passengers effectively, with reports indicating lost communication amid the confusion. The Transport Ministry's aviation safety measures have come under question, leading to concerns about training and procedures for crises such as this.
Notably, seven people received treatment for smoke inhalation and miscellaneous injuries. Four crew members complained of chest discomfort due to smoke inhalation, and others reported tailbone and back pain resulting from the chaotic evacuation process.
Compounding concerns, the Airbus A321 model, which has been operational for over 17 years, had initially been cleared of major safety incidents for over the past decade. Investigators will closely examine this flight for underlying issues and the possibility of this incident being linked to recent safety lapses across the broader aviation sector.
The Transport Minister Park Sang-woo expressed deep sorrow over the events, stating, “We will do our best to prevent recurrence through thorough investigation of the cause, as well as provide support and compensation to the victims.”
Following the evacuation, reports suggest passengers were not provided with immediate clarity on next steps. Instead, they were left with mere directives to return home or seek local hotels with limited support post-crisis.
With even the aircraft's tail reportedly damaged and traces of smoke visible on its structure, the Airbus manufacturer has been alerted and is observing developments. All investigations are poised to focus on incident resolution and re-examining safety protocols across low-cost carriers to restore trust with the flying public.
This incident, coming on the heels of the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil roughly one month ago, has invoked the call for accountability and greater emphasis on passenger safety within the aviation sector.
The South Korean authorities continue to push for reforms to address safety across budget airlines. Such urgent measures underline the need to prioritize passenger safety over profit margins, reflecting growing concern about aviation industry practices.
The incident has caught the aviation industry's attention, with many awaiting the actionable steps set to emerge from thorough investigations as officials aim to minimize future risks.