Preliminary investigations suggest that a power bank's insulation breakdown caused a fire in the luggage compartment of an Air Busan flight, leading to minor injuries and prompting new safety regulations for airlines regarding portable batteries.
Investigators Link Power Bank to South Korean Plane Fire Incident
Investigators Link Power Bank to South Korean Plane Fire Incident
A malfunctioning power bank may have been responsible for a fire that destroyed an Air Busan passenger plane in January, according to South Korean authorities.
A recent investigation has indicated that a malfunctioning power bank may have been the cause of a fire that engulfed an Air Busan plane at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea this past January. The aircraft, an Airbus A321ceo, caught fire on January 28, resulting in minor injuries to three individuals aboard.
On Friday, South Korea's Ministry of Transport released preliminary findings suggesting the fire originated from the breakdown of insulation within the power bank, which was located in an overhead luggage compartment where flames first erupted. The investigation revealed scorch marks on debris from the power bank, although authorities were unable to determine what specifically led to the battery failure.
This report, however, is merely an interim update and not a conclusive accident report. For years, the aviation industry has imposed restrictions on the transportation of power banks in checked luggage due to safety risks, particularly associated with the lithium-ion batteries that can generate intense heat and potentially catch fire if compromised.
Since 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization has banned all types of lithium-ion batteries from cargo holds in passenger aircraft. Following the incident, Air Busan further tightened regulations and prohibited power banks from being stored in carry-on luggage, citing an uptick in cases of overheating devices.
Several airlines, including China Airlines and Thai Airways, are implementing similar restrictions, with Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot planning to ban both the use and charging of power banks onboard starting April 1. Additionally, the South Korean government announced that passengers would now need to carry portable battery packs and chargers on their person while traveling, rather than stored in overhead compartments.
