Earlier today, a LATAM Airlines Airbus A320-232, tail number PR-MAG, aborted its takeoff from Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) due to a fire in its left-side IAE V2527-A5 engine, according to a statement by Chile’s DGAC (Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil).
The aircraft was conducting a scheduled passenger flight when the incident occurred during its takeoff roll.
Incident Summary
The flight crew detected signs of fire from the left IAE V2527-A5 turbofan engine, prompting an immediate high-speed rejected takeoff (RTO). The aircraft safely decelerated on the runway, and emergency services responded swiftly, extinguishing the fire before it could spread.
All passengers were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
Aircraft and Engine Details
The aircraft involved—Airbus A320-232 MSN 1832—was first delivered in 2002 and is powered by two IAE V2527-A5 engines, known for their strong performance and reliability across the A320ceo fleet.
The V2527-A5 is part of the IAE V2500 engine family, frequently used in narrow-body aircraft. Despite its solid safety record, any engine can experience mechanical failure, which is why crew training and onboard fire suppression systems are critical.
Crew and Emergency Response Praised
The flight crew’s swift actions have been widely praised by aviation safety experts and the DGAC. LATAM has also issued a public statement acknowledging the incident and confirming that all standard safety procedures were followed.
DGAC Chile: “The crew handled the situation with professionalism, and emergency protocols were implemented effectively to ensure passenger safety.”
Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the engine fire. Initial focus will be on the engine’s maintenance records, recent component replacements, and data from the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR).
The engine manufacturer, International Aero Engines (IAE), is expected to assist in the investigation, alongside LATAM’s engineering teams.
Why This Incident Matters
This event serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proactive aircraft maintenance, engine health monitoring, and crew readiness. Although engine fires are rare, the robust safety design of the Airbus A320, including its automatic fire suppression systems, helped avert a potential disaster.
Conclusion
Thanks to quick-thinking pilots, well-drilled emergency services, and the resilient systems onboard, today’s incident involving the LATAM Airbus A320 ended safely. As investigations continue, the aviation community remains focused on learning from such events to further enhance air travel safety.
By Aeropeep Team
