A LATAM Airlines Peru Airbus A320 was evacuated after its left engine caught fire while taxiing for departure from Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport on 19 October. The aircraft, registration CC-BFS, was preparing to operate flight LA2302 to Piura when the incident occurred. All passengers and crew left the aircraft safely, no injuries were reported and the flight was cancelled pending an investigation.
Airport emergency services extinguished the fire. Video footage showed flames extending from the engine area towards the adjacent wing and trailing-edge control surfaces, although the extent of any damage had not been established. The aircraft was not airborne when the fire occurred.
LATAM classified the occurrence as an unforeseen technical event and activated its established safety procedures. The cause, the component involved and the aircraft’s return-to-service status remained undisclosed. Passengers were rebooked onto a later service to Piura while investigators and technical teams examined the aircraft.