- By Shivangi Sharma
- Fri, 05 Dec 2025 08:07 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A terrifying incident unfolded at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) on December 5, 2025, when a LATAM Airlines Airbus A320 caught fire just before takeoff, prompting an emergency evacuation of all 180 passengers and crew on board.
According to eyewitnesses, smoke rapidly filled the cabin, and flames were visible beneath one of the plane’s wings. The flight crew quickly ordered passengers to evacuate, deploying inflatable slides as travellers scrambled across the tarmac. Airport authorities later confirmed that everyone escaped unhurt, though footage showed passengers emerging visibly shaken from the smoke.
⚡️A plane with passengers on board caught fire in Brazil
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 5, 2025
In Brazil, an Airbus A320 operated by LATAM caught fire right on the runway. The aircraft was preparing for takeoff when the cabin suddenly filled with smoke, and passengers saw flames under the wing through the windows.… pic.twitter.com/v1jVSZTwPR
Fire Caused By Ground Equipment
Initial reports suggested a catastrophic on-board incident, but LATAM Airlines clarified that the fire originated from ground equipment, not the aircraft itself. A baggage loader operated by a third-party cargo company caught fire while loading luggage for flight LA3418, which was scheduled to depart for Porto Alegre, Brazil.
A LATAM spokesperson said, “There was a small fire in ground equipment belonging to a third-party company responsible for loading cargo for the flight. The smoke generated from the equipment triggered safety protocols. Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft via the boarding bridge and the escape slide, all with the assistance of employees trained for this type of situation.”
The fire ignited underneath the wing of the stationary plane, and local fire and rescue services later removed the affected conveyor belt from the scene.
Passengers Flee In Panic
Video footage captured the dramatic scene as passengers ran down the inflatable slides while smoke continued to engulf the plane. One air traffic controller’s cockpit audio captured the tense moments: “Flight 2023, you got a lot of smoke,” the controller said. “There was some flames. Looks like the smoke is dying down a bit… You are actually on fire.”
This is not the first time passengers have been forced to evacuate a LATAM flight. Earlier this year, over 150 passengers evacuated a flight after a landing gear incident sparked a fire, and in July, a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 made an emergency landing at Heathrow due to smoke in the galley.
Despite the panic, the evacuation proceeded efficiently, thanks to the trained crew and airport personnel. LATAM confirmed that all passengers were safe, and the airport reopened the area after fire crews removed the damaged equipment.