Busan, South Korea – Air Busan, a South Korean low-cost carrier known for its exceptional safety record, has suffered a significant setback following a recent aircraft fire at Kimhae International Airport. The incident marked the end of the airline's 12-year streak of accident-free operations.
The aircraft involved in the incident was identified as a 17-year-old Airbus A321-200, first manufactured in 2007. Until this unfortunate event, Air Busan had boasted an impressive safety record, operating over 100,000 flights without a single serious incident or accident.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an accident is defined as an event that occurs during the operation of an aircraft and results in death, serious injury, substantial damage to the aircraft, or missing aircraft. A serious incident, on the other hand, is an event that could have resulted in an accident but did not.
The affected aircraft, with the registration number HL7763, was initially leased by Asiana Airlines before being transferred to Air Busan in 2017. While it had experienced a tail strike incident in 2009, there were no previous records of accidents or serious incidents associated with this aircraft.
Air Busan currently operates a fleet of 21 Airbus A320 family aircraft, all of which are based at Kimhae International Airport, the airline's main hub. The carrier is currently exploring a merger with Jin Air and Air Seoul, both subsidiaries of Korean Air, to create a larger low-cost carrier.
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