LATAM’s Airbus A320 caught fire while lining up for takeoff at Lima Airport on Monday, October 19, 2026, forcing the crew to stop the aircraft and evacuate passengers. The flight was bound for Piura. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
The aircraft was preparing to depart on scheduled service LA2302 when its no. 1, or left-hand, engine caught fire at 10:43 UTC. It had been taxiing and lining up on runway 16R.
Passengers and crew left the aircraft as a precaution. Airport emergency services extinguished the fire, and the flight’s departure was canceled.
The airline called the incident an unforeseen technical event. It said its emergency protocol had been activated and passengers were taken off the aircraft as a preventive measure.
“An unexpected technical event occurred before takeoff, and for this reason the precautionary disembarkation of all passengers was ordered, always prioritising their safety”
The airline said safety remained its priority. A passenger said the pilot had announced takeoff and the engines had powered up shortly before the fire. The captain later told those aboard that takeoff had been aborted because of a problem with the left landing gear.
Indecopi is checking how passengers were assisted
Peru’s consumer protection agency, Indecopi, said it was supervising assistance at the airport. The agency was checking whether travelers received clear information about their rescheduled service and consumer rights.
The material available does not establish a separate compensation rule or deadline for this incident. Indecopi’s stated focus was passenger assistance and information.
Passengers should confirm the replacement itinerary
Affected travelers were rebooked onto other flights. The airline said the replacement service had already reached Piura.
- Check the revised flight details provided by the airline.
- Confirm the destination and arrival details for the rebooked service.
- Seek clear information about the rescheduled trip and consumer rights, the issues Indecopi said it was monitoring.
A replacement Airbus A320-200, registration CC-BFR, reached Piura about 4 hours late. The city lies around 900km from Lima.
The airport said other flights continued normally
Airport authorities said both runways remained operational throughout the emergency. Other arriving and departing flights were unaffected, and the airport operator said normal operations continued.
The canceled departure was the immediate disruption reported for the aircraft. Passengers continued their journey on the replacement service.
Investigators have not identified where the fire began
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320-214 (WL), registration CC-BFS, manufacturer serial number 5818. It was built in 2013 and operated on the Lima-to-Piura route.
The Aviation Safety Network’s entry classifies the damage as “substantial” and records the flight phase as taxi. The database cautions that its information is “only available from news, social media or unofficial sources.”
The aircraft remained on the ground in Lima about 10 hours after the fire. It was removed from service and is undergoing a technical inspection. Its technical condition remains under evaluation.
The source of the flames has not been established publicly. Available accounts do not determine whether the fire started inside the engine or in a nearby component, so the event cannot yet be attributed to a specific mechanical defect.
The same aircraft had been involved in an earlier occurrence near Chaparra on 25 January 2024, when it was also associated with LATAM Airlines Chile. The current inspection is expected to help determine what caused the fire.
