Air Busan: Power bank likely caused plane fire, investigators say

According to South Korean local authorities, a passenger plane fire that occurred in South Korea this January was highly likely caused by a portable power bank, resulting in the complete destruction of the aircraft. This incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of portable electronic devices, prompting further scrutiny of safety regulations.

The Air Busan aircraft caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in southern South Korea on January 28, causing minor injuries to three people on board. The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated on Friday that preliminary investigation results indicate the fire may have been triggered by damage to the insulation inside the power bank's battery. The statement noted that the power bank was found in the overhead luggage compartment where the fire was first discovered, and its fragments had traces of charring.

Investigators stated that the cause of the battery damage is currently undetermined. This update is also based solely on preliminary investigation results and is not the final accident report regarding the Airbus A321ceo aircraft. For safety reasons, airlines worldwide have long prohibited power banks in checked baggage due to the lithium-ion batteries inside the devices. These batteries can generate extreme heat and cause fires if damaged or if manufacturing defects lead to a short circuit.

Since the International Civil Aviation Organization issued a directive in 2016, any type of lithium-ion battery has been prohibited from being placed in the cargo hold of passenger aircraft. In the week following the Air Busan fire, the airline further tightened related regulations, announcing that it would no longer allow passengers to place power banks in their carry-on luggage. The airline stated that the new rules were in response to the increasing number of incidents involving power bank overheating.

An increasing number of airlines, including China Airlines and Thai Airways, are introducing similar regulations. Singapore Airlines and its budget arm Scoot will also ban the use and charging of power banks on board from April 1. On February 28, the South Korean government also announced that passengers boarding flights in the country will be required to carry portable batteries and chargers with them, rather than storing them in the overhead luggage compartments.