A horrifying incident unfolded on a Chicago Transit Authority train Monday night when a woman was set ablaze during an altercation with a man, according to police reports.

Authorities stated that the 26-year-old woman was involved in a dispute with a 45-year-old man while traveling on the CTA train at approximately 9:25 p.m. The argument escalated dramatically when the man allegedly doused her with a flammable liquid and set her on fire, as detailed in a statement by the Chicago Police Department.

Following this shocking act, the suspect reportedly fled the scene when the train reached its next stop. By Monday afternoon, police had identified and detained a person of interest in connection with the case.

After the incident, the woman managed to exit the train and collapsed on the platform. Fortunately, the flames were extinguished before emergency responders arrived on the scene.

A Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train. (FOX 32 Chicago)

The woman got off the train and fell to the ground. The fire was extinguished before first responders arrived. 

A Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train arrives at a station. A woman was set on fire Monday aboard a CTA train, police said.  (Getty Images)

The victim sustained severe burns to her body and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. 

“Just seeing her lying on the ground, and she was kind of hyperventilating and in a lot of pain. You could tell she was in really bad shape. All the medics were down there, and there was a big turnout as far as responders and so forth,” one witness told Fox Chicago. 

The Chicago Transit Authority condemned the shooting in a statement Monday. (iStock)

The incident is still under investigation.