SEOUL (Kyodo) -- A commercial airplane operated by a low-cost carrier caught fire while preparing for takeoff Tuesday at an international airport in Busan, South Korea, and all of the nearly 180 passengers and crew members were evacuated, the country's transport ministry and local media reports said.

The fire started on Air Busan Flight 391 at around 10:15 p.m. at Gimhae International Airport ahead of a scheduled departure for Hong Kong, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said.

According to media reports, fewer than 20 people aboard sustained injuries, and all were minor.

The fire started in the rear part of the Airbus A321 and was subdued by around 11:30 p.m., Yonhap News Agency reported.