What happened
On the evening of January 28, 2025, an Air Busan Airbus A321-200, registration HL7763, was prepared for a scheduled flight from Gimhae International Airport to Hong Kong International Airport. After all 170 passengers and 6 crew members had boarded and the aircraft doors were secured, the aircraft was held on the ramp due to en-route separation delays.
At approximately 22:14 local time, a smoke warning for the lavatory appeared in the cockpit. Shortly thereafter, cabin crew notified the captain of an active fire in the rear of the cabin. The captain immediately initiated an emergency evacuation. Passengers and crew exited the aircraft using seven of the available emergency slides. While the crew successfully evacuated all occupants, the fire spread rapidly through the upper fuselage. Firefighting services arrived at 22:17 and began suppression efforts, which continued until 23:31. The aircraft sustained significant damage and was destroyed.
The investigation
The ARAIB investigation focused on the origin of the fire and the subsequent destruction of the airframe. Investigators recovered both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder from the scene, and these are currently undergoing analysis. The investigation also involves examining the aircraft's components, interviewing passengers and ground personnel, and reviewing air traffic control data. International aviation authorities, including the NTSB, BEA, and BFU, are providing assistance in this ongoing inquiry.
Findings
- The fire originated in the rear overhead area of the cabin.
- The fire caused the destruction of the upper fuselage and impacted the engines and wings.
- The aircraft was carrying 35,900 lbs of fuel at the time of the incident.
- The evacuation resulted in 3 serious injuries and 24 minor injuries.
- The cabin fire was the primary driver of the aircraft's destruction.