South Korea plane fire likely sparked by portable power bank, authorities say
A portable power bank is believed to have triggered the fire that engulfed and destroyed an Air Busan passenger plane at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea on January 28, local authorities reported.
The blaze left three passengers with minor injuries.
On Friday, South Korea’s transport ministry released interim findings suggesting the fire was caused by a breakdown in the insulation inside a power bank battery.
The charred remains of the device were discovered in an overhead luggage compartment, where the fire first erupted. However, investigators have not yet determined what led to the battery failure.
The incident has reignited safety concerns over lithium-ion batteries, which have been banned from cargo holds of passenger planes since 2016 under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations. Airlines worldwide prohibit power banks in checked baggage due to the risk of overheating and fires from short circuits.
In response to the Air Busan fire, the airline tightened its policies by prohibiting power banks in carry-on luggage. The move follows a surge in overheating incidents linked to portable chargers.
Other airlines, including China Airlines, Thai Airways, and Singapore Airlines, are adopting similar restrictions. Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ budget carrier, will enforce a ban on the use and charging of power banks onboard starting April 1.
Additionally, on February 28, the South Korean government mandated that passengers must carry power banks and portable chargers on their person rather than placing them in overhead compartments. The rule aims to mitigate fire risks and allow for quick response in case of overheating incidents.
