US EditionMoment plane catches fire just before takeoff as panicked passengers scream
Latam safely evacuated 169 passengers after subcontractor baggage equipment caught fire, with 159 reaching Porto Alegre the next day, airline said.
- On Dec 4, Latam Airlines flight LA3418 was forced to evacuate 169 passengers at São Paulo International Airport after a fire broke out on the tarmac near the Airbus A320.
- Latam said the fire began in subcontractor baggage-loading equipment, with smoke and flames rising near the underside of the aircraft and triggering alarms.
- Influencer Lucas Lima filmed the evacuation as a young crew member reportedly broke protocol to open a rear slide, while passengers initially grabbed bags until flight attendants ordered them to leave belongings.
- Latam rebooked most passengers and issued food vouchers as it arranged onward travel; 159 passengers arrived in Porto Alegre on Dec 5 while 10 others were routed separately, and the airline will cooperate with the investigation.
- Videos on social media turned the incident into a viral case study of how Brazil's safety culture, professional operators and airport contractors manage emergencies, with past ground incidents showing procedures hold up.
48 Articles
48 Articles
A plane preparing for a domestic flight at São Paulo Airport in Brazil was enveloped in flames and plumes of smoke after equipment on the tarmac caught fire. The incident occurred Thursday evening. Shocked passengers were urged to "leave everything behind" and exit the plane as it was enveloped in smoke from the fire. Footage online shows the sheer chaos. The footage shows a fire raging beneath the fuselage. Latam Airlines reported that no injur…
Shock for passengers at the airport in São Paulo: Just below the plane there are flames and dense smoke fumes just before take-off. The luggage truck had caught fire.
At the airport in São Paulo, there is a particularly delicate moment: during the loading of an Airbus machine, a luggage car catches fire - dense smoke swathes surround the plane. 169 passengers must leave the plane as soon as possible.
At the airport of Brazil's largest city, a luggage cart is set on fire directly under an airplane. 169 passengers have to leave the plane as soon as possible - even via emergency slides.
Fire Under Latam Jet Forces Emergency Slide Evacuation At Guarulhos
Key Points A baggage-belt fire beside a Latam A320 forced an emergency evacuation at São Paulo’s main international airport, with no injuries. Passenger videos turned the incident into a viral case study in how Brazilian crews, airports and contractors handle real emergencies. The episode exposes both Brazil’s strong safety culture and the tension between professional […]
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