Plane Carrying 176 People Catches Fire at South Korea Airport During Takeoff

A plane carrying 176 people on board caught fire just before takeoff at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea.  

The aircraft, operated by South Korean airline Air Busan, was preparing to depart for Hong Kong late Tuesday when the rear section of the plane caught fire.  

According to the Transport Ministry, 169 passengers, 6 crew members, and 1 engineer were evacuated using escape slides. The National Fire Agency reported that 3 people sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process.  

Firefighters and fire trucks were deployed to the scene, and the fire was fully extinguished by 11:31 PM, about an hour after it started.  

The cause of the fire is not yet known. Authorities confirmed the aircraft involved was an A321 model. Investigations are ongoing.