Passengers Evacuated as Smoke Engulfs Plane in Scary Emergency

Chaos erupted in Brazil at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport when a ground vehicle used to load luggage caught fire next to a Latam Airlines Airbus A320, forcing more than 180 passengers and crew to evacuate.

The blaze, which ignited near the stationary aircraft, filled the runway with smoke and immediately triggered emergency protocols. Thankfully, authorities confirmed that no one was injured during the evacuation, which saw passengers use boarding bridges and inflatable slides to leave the plane safely.

Passenger Lucas Lima described the sudden scramble: “When we were almost all seated, there was an announcement to evacuate the aircraft immediately. Then, everyone stood up, some not quite understanding and trying to grab their luggage. Another announcement came, and the officers were shouting to leave our belongings and exit through the front immediately. From inside, there was no smoke or smell, and we couldn’t understand why we had to evacuate.”

Latam Airlines later issued a statement, calling it a “small fire” on a baggage-handling vehicle that grounded the flight. The airline confirmed the fire was quickly contained and that the plane itself never caught fire.

All passengers on Flight LA3418 were safely rebooked on other flights, and the incident in Brazil has been fully resolved.