Jin Air Passenger Plane Releases Smoke Before Take Off, 122 Evacuated in Emergency Response

According to Yonhap News Agency on January 2, a commercial aircraft operated by Jin Air experienced a technical incident that forced an emergency evacuation at Jeju International Airport. The plane, which was scheduled to take off at 12:25 p.m. local time on a flight from Jeju to Pohang, suddenly released unidentified smoke in the cabin during the boarding phase. All 122 people aboard, including passengers and crew members, were evacuated without injuries reported.

Technical Malfunction Triggers Urgent Evacuation

Jin Air officials confirmed that the incident did not escalate into a full fire, and emergency fire services were not required to respond. The airline’s investigation team moved swiftly to identify the source of the smoke in the cabin. Passengers and crew members were safely guided off the aircraft during the urgent evacuation procedure, demonstrating the effectiveness of the airline’s safety protocols.

Auxiliary Power Unit Defect Identified as Root Cause

The investigation concluded that the smoke originated from the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit located at the rear of the plane. The defect was traced to a thermal malfunction in this critical component, which had malfunctioned during the pre-flight preparation phase. This mechanical issue resulted in overheating, which subsequently triggered the visible smoke inside the cabin. Jin Air has indicated that the problem has been resolved before the aircraft can be returned to service.