160 evacuated after fire breaks out in KAL lounge at Incheon Airport

A KAL Lounge, operated by Korean Air, located at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 [KOREAN AIR]

A fire broke out at Korean Air’s KAL Lounge at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 at 6:42 p.m. Sunday, prompting some 160 people to evacuate.

Six airport security personnel who inhaled smoke were transferred to a nearby hospital for medical attention. No casualties were reported among passengers.

The fire originated near a kitchen fryer in the lounge, located in the east wing of Terminal 2, and was brought under control after roughly 18 minutes, at around 7 p.m., Korean Air confirmed on Monday.

Employees from Korean Air immediately attempted to extinguish the flames using fire extinguishers. Soon after, the airport fire department arrived at the scene and put out the flames.

Incheon International Airport Corporation said that approximately 150 passengers, including approximately 100 individuals who were using the lounge at the time, along with around 10 employees, were safely evacuated.

To determine the exact cause of the fire, Korean Air and the Incheon Airport Corporation are working in collaboration with fire authorities and relevant agencies.

The lounge is currently operating normally.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]