Aircraft fire leads to evacuation in Lima
A LATAM aircraft caught fire on a wing before departure; passengers were evacuated.
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A fire broke out on a LATAM aircraft at Jorge Chávez Airport in the Peruvian capital Lima on Monday. Passengers were evacuated; reports do not state a definitive cause.
According to Peru’s ombudsman, the fire broke out at around 5.45am local time on the aircraft’s left wing. The plane was at the airport before it was due to begin its flight to Piura. The airport operator confirmed to the ombudsman that the incident occurred during preparations for the flight.
Emergency services responded and the passengers were removed from the aircraft. Available public reports give no indication that anyone was killed. Initial reports differ on the number of people on board and any minor injuries, or do not yet provide a complete picture.
Firefighters and airport authorities are investigating how the fire started. No technical fault has been reported as an established cause. It is also not yet clear whether the aircraft can be returned to service after inspection.
The incident temporarily drew attention to safety at the airport. Jorge Chávez is Peru’s main international airport and has been expanded in recent years. An incident on the apron can affect departure times, but the extent of any disruption was not yet known on Tuesday.
In aircraft incidents, a distinction is made between an evacuation and an accident involving casualties. The fact that passengers left the aircraft says nothing in itself about the cause or seriousness of the incident. The investigation’s findings are needed for that.
The Peruvian authorities have not yet published a final report. This article is therefore limited to the confirmed event: a fire on an aircraft before departure followed by an evacuation. New information may add to the picture.
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The event was confirmed by Peru’s ombudsman and a second public source. Unconfirmed details about casualties and the cause were not presented as fact.
- confirmed A LATAM aircraft caught fire on its left wing before departure. — Peru’s ombudsman confirmed the time, location and wing. source
- confirmed Passengers were evacuated. — This is stated in public reporting about the incident. source
- uncertain The cause has not yet been established. — The sources consulted give no definitive cause; it has therefore been worded cautiously. source
Editor's note
The fire and evacuation were confirmed by the ombudsman. The cause, exact number of passengers and any injuries had not been definitively established at the time of publication.Sources
- Defensoría supervisa acciones tras incendio en ala de avión — Defensoría del Pueblo Peru
- Ala de avión de LATAM se incendia antes del despegue — AP Noticias / El Comercio
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „peru lima”
- De Telegraaf — „peru lima”
- AD — „peru lima”