Seoul: A fire on an Air Busan airplane at Gimhae International Airport in Busan left seven people with minor injuries, according to fire authorities. The incident took place on Tuesday night as the plane, which was headed to Hong Kong, was preparing for takeoff. All 176 passengers and crew onboard were safely evacuated.
Initial reports indicated three injuries, but this number was updated after further assessments. Among the injured are four crew members suffering from chest discomfort due to smoke inhalation, as well as a woman in her 70s and two individuals in their 50s who experienced pain in their backs and tailbones.
Despite the fire, Gimhae International Airport resumed normal operations on Wednesday, with 279 scheduled flights running as planned, although eight Air Busan flights were canceled.
In response to the accident, acting President Choi Sang-mok has called for a thorough investigation and urged measures to ensure flight safety and minimize public inconvenience.
Passengers reported that the fire began in a baggage compartment and was accompanied by crackling sounds and smoke. Investigators suspect that an external battery or an electronic device within a suitcase may have triggered the fire.
The affected aircraft is a 17-year-old Airbus A321ceo, identified by its tail number HL7763, as noted by the Aviation Safety Network. This incident follows closely on the heels of a recent aviation disaster in South Korea, where a Jeju Air passenger plane crash resulted in nearly all onboard losing their lives, marking a significant tragedy in the nation’s aviation history.