A flight in Brazil was thrown into chaos on Thursday evening after a fire on the ground sent smoke billowing into the aircraft, forcing the emergency evacuation of all 180 people on board.
Chaotic Scenes as Smoke Fills Cabin
The incident took place on December 5, 2025, at São Paulo Airport. Passengers aboard LATAM Airlines flight LA3418, which was scheduled to depart for Porto Alegre, were preparing for takeoff when the emergency unfolded.
Dramatic footage from the scene captured the panic as passengers spotted smoke and flames outside the windows. The cabin quickly filled with smoke, leading to screams and a frantic rush for the exits. Video shows travellers pushing their way towards the aircraft doors to escape.
Ground Equipment Blamed for Blaze
According to a statement from LATAM Airlines, the source of the fire was not on the plane itself. A spokesperson confirmed that a small fire broke out in ground equipment belonging to a third-party company responsible for loading cargo.
Specifically, the blaze ignited on the conveyor belt being used to transport luggage into the aircraft's hold. The smoke generated was enough to trigger the airline's strict safety protocols, initiating the immediate evacuation.
Swift Evacuation and Emergency Response
In a coordinated safety operation, all 180 passengers and crew were safely evacuated using both the boarding bridge and inflatable escape slides. LATAM emphasised that the process was assisted by employees specifically trained for such emergencies.
Following the evacuation, local fire services attended the scene and were filmed removing the affected conveyor belt from the tarmac. The cause of the fire on the ground equipment remains under investigation.
This incident follows another recent aviation safety event involving smoke. In July 2025, a United Airlines Boeing 777-200ER made an emergency U-turn and landing at London's Heathrow Airport shortly after takeoff due to smoke filling the plane's galley.
