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A LATAM Airlines Perú Airbus A320 was taken out of service after flames erupted around its left engine while it was preparing to depart Lima for Piura, Peru, on October 19. The incident occurred at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) before takeoff, and videos shared online showed fire and heavy smoke around the engine and left wing. Airport emergency crews responded, while the aircraft remained on the ground.
The aircraft was operating flight LA2302, a domestic service to Piura in northern Peru. LATAM described the incident as an unforeseen technical event and said passengers were disembarked as a preventive measure. No injuries were reported, and the airline arranged for affected travelers to continue their journeys on other flights. The cause of the fire has not been established publicly, and the aircraft’s technical condition remains under evaluation.
Fire Broke Out Before Takeoff
The incident took place as LA2302 prepared to leave Lima for Piura. Reports identify the aircraft as an Airbus A320-214 registered CC-BFS, fitted with sharklets and powered by CFM International CFM56-5B4/3 engines. Air Data News reports that the aircraft was built in 2013, although LATAM has not publicly confirmed the registration or released a detailed technical account of the event.
Footage recorded at the airport showed flames coming from the left engine area, with smoke rising around the wing. A separate video taken from inside the cabin showed the fire outside while passengers were still aboard. The available reports do not establish whether the fire began inside the engine itself or in another component nearby, so the precise source remains unknown. It would be premature to attribute the event to an engine failure or any specific mechanical defect.
LATAM said the event happened before departure and that it activated its safety procedures. The passengers were taken off the aircraft, and airport emergency crews attended the fire. The airline did not immediately provide a public estimate of the damage or say when the aircraft might return to service.
Passengers Rebooked As Investigation Begins
LATAM said its teams assisted passengers affected by the disruption and arranged alternative flights. Peru’s consumer protection agency, Indecopi, said it was supervising the assistance offered at the airport and checking that travelers received clear information about the rescheduled service. The airport operator said normal operations continued after the incident, although the aircraft’s departure was canceled.
As a result of the incident, the aircraft did not complete the Lima-to-Piura flight. Reports indicate that passengers were transferred to another service, and a replacement A320 reportedly reached Piura several hours later. The delay disrupted the planned journey, but there were no reported injuries among passengers or crew. LATAM has not released a full account of how many people were on board.
Airline communications said the circumstances would be subject to a technical evaluation under the relevant procedures. That process will need to establish where the fire originated, what systems or components were affected, and whether the aircraft can safely return to operation. No definitive cause has been announced, and the available video alone cannot establish the technical sequence that led to the flames.
A Technical Inspection Will Determine The Next Steps
Following an engine fire, maintenance teams must assess the affected powerplant and surrounding structure before an aircraft can return to service. Depending on the source and intensity of the fire, inspections may need to cover engine components, electrical and fuel systems, the engine nacelle, and nearby wing structures. Any damaged parts must be repaired or replaced, and the aircraft must satisfy applicable airworthiness requirements before it can resume commercial operations.
The findings may also help establish whether the event resulted from a component malfunction, a fluid leak, or another technical problem. These are possible avenues for examination, not confirmed explanations for the fire. A reliable conclusion will require maintenance records, physical inspections, and any relevant data gathered during the incident.
For LATAM, the aircraft’s return to service will depend on the results of that assessment rather than a predetermined timeline. Further information from the airline or Peruvian aviation authorities could clarify the cause, the extent of the damage, and whether additional inspections are necessary for other aircraft or components. Until those findings are released, the precise circumstances behind the fire remain undetermined.
