An Air Busan passenger plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 176 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) as the aircraft, which was bound for Hong Kong, ignited near its tail section.

A total of 169 passengers and seven flight attendants were evacuated using inflatable slides, Yonhap reported.

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One person sustained injuries during the evacuation, but no further details about the injury or the fire’s cause were immediately available.

South Korea’s Busan fire authorities were not reachable for comment, according to AFP.

This incident comes just weeks after South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in decades.

Recall that on December 29, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and exploded after striking a concrete barrier at Muan International Airport.

The crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew on board.

According to Flightradar24, Air Busan’s fleet is composed entirely of Airbus aircraft.

The cause of Tuesday’s fire is under investigation.

DR Congo – A violent jailbreak unfolded early Monday morning at a prison in Goma, just hours after fighters from the M23 armed group and Rwandan troops entered the city.

According to a security source, the prison, which housed around 3,000 inmates, was “totally torched” during the massive escape, leading to “deaths,” though details remain limited.

Fleeing prisoners were seen running through the surrounding streets, witnesses reported to AFP.

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The chaos erupted as gunfire and large explosions shook the city center of Goma on the night of January 26, 2025, as M23 fighters, bolstered by Rwandan forces, clashed with the Congolese army on the outskirts of the city.

Large explosions continued after nightfall, causing panic among residents in this mineral-rich region, which is also home to over a million people and as many displaced by the ongoing violence.

The battle for Goma, a critical strategic location, marks a new chapter in the decade-long instability plaguing eastern DRC.

It highlights the deepening tensions involving Rwanda and the DRC, fueled by long-standing regional rivalries, ethnic tensions, and armed militia confrontations.

International calls for an end to the fighting have grown louder, as Kenyan President William Ruto announced on Sunday that a summit would be convened in the coming days between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame to address the crisis.

Fighters from the M23, with support from Rwandan troops, have been clashing with Congolese forces near Goma for several days. Despite calls for an end to the violence, Rwanda has continued to reinforce its position.

On Sunday, between 500 and 1,000 additional Rwandan soldiers were reported to have crossed into DRC, strengthening M23’s offensive.

The DRC government has strongly condemned Rwanda’s actions, accusing Kigali of violating its sovereignty.

“This is a frontal assault, a declaration of war that no longer hides behind diplomatic artifice,” Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner stated during an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Sunday.

In response, Rwanda’s foreign ministry defended its military presence, asserting it was necessary to maintain a “sustained defensive posture” due to the ongoing fighting near the border.

“This fighting close to the Rwandan border continues to present a serious threat to Rwanda’s security and territorial integrity,” a Rwandan statement said.

The United Nations Security Council has urged the withdrawal of foreign forces, but avoided naming Rwanda directly.

However, the UN has expressed concern over Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict, with a report alleging that Rwanda is using the M23 to secure access to the DRC’s vast mineral wealth, which it then exports for its own gain. UN sources confirmed that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops are currently backing the M23.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the violence continues to claim the lives of both local civilians and foreign peacekeepers.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Rwanda to cease its support for the M23 and withdraw its troops from the DRC, though these calls have been rejected by Kigali.

With diplomatic relations between Rwanda and the DRC deteriorating rapidly, both countries have recalled their ambassadors, and tensions remain high.

In a bold move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared on Sunday that he would not allow US deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants to access his country’s airspace.

The left-wing leader took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his strong stance, stating, “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I forbid entry to our territory to US planes carrying Colombian migrants.”

Petro made it clear that such flights would only be accepted once Washington established a protocol to ensure the “dignified treatment” of deported migrants.

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The president later confirmed in a separate post that he had already turned back US military planes that were en route with Colombian migrants on board, although he did not provide further specifics on the matter.

While AFP sought confirmation from US authorities regarding the blockade of deportation flights, no immediate response was forthcoming.

Petro’s statements come just a day after Brazil’s government voiced similar outrage over the treatment of deported Brazilians.

Brazil condemned the US administration under President Donald Trump, citing instances where Brazilian migrants were deported while handcuffed on flights, describing it as a “flagrant disregard” for their basic rights.

In his remarks, Petro emphasized that he would be open to allowing civilian US flights to transport deported migrants as long as they were not subjected to treatment “like criminals,” signaling a broader call for humane treatment of migrants under international deportation policies.