South Korean officials are launching an investigation into the cause of the fire that engulfed an Air Busan passenger plane while awaiting takeoff at Busan's Gimhae International Airport, with some eyewitness accounts leading to speculation that a portable power bank may have caused the blaze.

The fire broke out in the back of the cabin, officials said. All 176 people on board, including passengers and crew members, were evacuated, some with minor injuries.

Airbus A321 passenger jet operated by Air Busan, was preparing for a flight to Hong Kong from Gimhae International Airport in southeastern Busan when the fire broke out at approximately 10:15pm local time.