Moments before taking off towards Porto Alegre, a LATAM plane was overcome by smoke and flames on Thursday night, forcing the immediate evacuation of more than 180 passengers who were already on board. The incident occurred on the runway at São Paulo airport and generated moments of great tension inside the aircraft.
According to testimonies, the cabin began to fill with smoke a few moments before takeoff and flames became visible through the windows, prompting the crew to order an emergency exit. Passengers slid down the inflatable ramps and ran across the runway to quickly get away from the plane. The airline confirmed that there were no injuries.
The first indications point to the possibility that the fire was caused by a malfunction on a conveyor belt used to transport luggage. Authorities continue to investigate what led to the fire at such a sensitive time in the operation.
