Korean Air plane evacuated at Tokyo airport after fire

TOKYO (AA) – More than 300 people were evacuated from a Korean Air passenger plane after its left engine caught fire Friday at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

Japanese news agency Kyodo cited Korean Air Lines as saying that out of the 302 passengers and 17 crew members on board the Boeing 777, seven sustained scratches from the escape chutes during evacuation.

Security officials said that the fire on the plane, which had been set to fly from Japan’s capital to Seoul, was reported at around 12.44 p.m. (0344 GTM).

According to the National Police Agency, signs of possible terrorism were not immediately detected.

Around 100 police officers and 60 firefighting vehicles were immediately dispatched to the runway, which has been shut down.

Operation at three other runways was temporarily halted, before resuming in the afternoon, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The ministry said its aviation accident investigation arm deployed investigators to the site as the case was designated as a “serious” incident.