Air Busan Airbus A321-231 plane crash

The Airbus A321 operated by Air Busan was scheduled to operate from Busan-Gimhae, South Korea, to Hong Kong, China. There were 170 passengers and 6 crew members on board. While the aircraft was still parked at the gate after boarding, a fire broke out in the rear section of the cabin. The crew ordered an emergency evacuation. All 176 occupants evacuated the aircraft. The aircraft was destroyed by the fire.

The fire was detected in the area of an overhead baggage compartment in the rear section of the cabin, after the doors had already been closed in preparation for departure. The flames quickly spread through the cabin and then to the upper section of the fuselage. Airport emergency services responded while the evacuation was under way.

Several occupants were injured during the evacuation. The authorities concluded that the fire was probably caused by an insulation failure in a portable battery stored in an overhead baggage compartment.

The aircraft

The Airbus A321-200 involved in the accident was registered HL7763. The aircraft was destroyed by the flames.