LATAM Airbus A320 catches fire before takeoff at Lima airport

Flames erupted from the left side of a LATAM Airlines Perú Airbus A320 at Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport on Monday, 19 October 2026, shortly before it was due to depart for Piura in northern Peru. The flight was halted and passengers were taken off the aircraft, with no injuries reported. Footage shows flames and thick smoke near the left engine, although the cause of the fire has not been established.

The emergency occurred at about 5.45 am local time, according to information airport operator Lima Airport Partners provided to Peru’s Ombudsman’s Office. Flight LA2302 was bound for Piura and had not taken off. Aviation reporting identifies the A320 as registration CC-BFS. AeroCorner, citing The Aviation Herald, reported that the jet was lining up on runway 16R when flames appeared on the left-engine side. Airport emergency crews responded and the fire was brought under control.

LATAM described the occurrence as an unforeseen technical event before takeoff and disembarked the passengers as a precaution. The videos establish where the flames were visible but do not conclusively identify the component involved or explain how the fire started. Footage and aviation reports show that flames reached the area of the left wing and main landing gear, close to the engine. Specialist outlet AEROIN reports that the aircraft sustained damage, without detailing its nature or severity. LATAM said its technical assessment of CC-BFS would examine the cause of the fire and the extent of any damage.

The affected travellers received assistance at the airport. The Ombudsman’s Office said the airport operator confirmed that no passenger injuries had been reported and that medical support had been made available. LATAM arranged an alternative aircraft to take passengers to Piura. According to flight data reported by AeroCorner, another Airbus A320, registered CC-BFR, completed the journey roughly four hours late, landing at 11.17 am local time.

The emergency did not halt the airport’s wider operation. Lima Airport Partners told representatives of the Ombudsman’s Office that other flights were continuing normally. The disruption was therefore concentrated on the Piura service and the aircraft involved, rather than a general suspension of flights at Jorge Chávez.

Passenger welfare also came under official scrutiny. Peru’s Ombudsman’s Office sent representatives to check how travellers were being assisted and what action the airline and authorities had taken. They confirmed that consumer protection authority Indecopi had opened an investigation. The Ombudsman’s Office also called for stronger civil aviation oversight and faster examination of recent aviation incidents.