Explainer: Did a portable power bank cause an Air Busan plane fire?
A local Air Busan source, quoted by JoongAng Ilbo, suggested that a portable battery in a passenger's carry-on luggage might have been compressed, leading to ignition.

A local Air Busan source, quoted by JoongAng Ilbo, suggested that a portable battery in a passenger's carry-on luggage might have been compressed, leading to ignition.
SHAH ALAM - A fire broke out on an Air Busan Airbus A321 aircraft at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, late Tuesday night, forcing an emergency evacuation of all 176 people on board.
The aircraft was preparing for departure to Hong Kong when flames engulfed the rear section. Authorities are now investigating whether a portable battery stored in an overhead bin might have sparked the blaze.
This incident comes just a month after South Korea suffered its worst aviation disaster in decades, when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed at Muan International Airport, resulting in 179 fatalities.
Emergency Evacuation and Injuries
The fire broke out around 10.15pm, prompting an immediate response from emergency personnel. The 169 passengers, six crew members and one engineer onboard were evacuated via emergency slides.
Initially, three people were reported injured, but authorities later revised the number to seven, with one person requiring hospitalisation. The National Fire Agency confirmed that firefighters managed to fully extinguish the blaze by 11.31pm, approximately an hour after their arrival.
Possible Cause: A Portable Battery?
While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, Yonhap News Agency reported that the blaze may have started after black smoke emerged from an overhead compartment.
A local Air Busan source, quoted by JoongAng Ilbo, suggested that a portable battery in a passenger's carry-on luggage might have been compressed, leading to ignition.
This theory has raised concerns about lithium-ion battery safety on flights. According to United States (US) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data, battery-related fires on flights have surged by 388 per cent since 2015, now occurring nearly twice a week on average.
Aircraft Damage and Response
Images from local media showed thick smoke billowing from the plane's interior and later revealed a massive hole along the upper fuselage. Fortunately, the aircraft’s wings and engines remained intact, preventing a more catastrophic event.
One of the key factors in containing the fire was the use of specialised firefighting equipment. An autonomous demolition fire vehicle, introduced at Gimhae International Airport last year, played a crucial role.
This high-tech firefighting truck, equipped with a demolition iron ball and a high-powered water nozzle, was able to penetrate the aircraft's exterior, allowing firefighters to extinguish the flames from within.
Regulatory Changes and Safety Concerns
This incident has intensified calls for stricter regulations on battery transport in airline cabins. Some airlines have already implemented in-flight announcements instructing passengers to keep batteries with them rather than storing them in overhead bins.
South Korea's Transport Minister Park Sang-woo expressed deep concern over the situation.
"In the wake of the Jeju Air passenger aircraft tragedy, an additional aviation accident has taken place and we feel deeply sorry for the passengers on board and the public,” he said.
The fire has also added pressure on Korean Air's plans to merge its low-cost carriers (LCCs), Air Busan, Air Seoul and Jin Air, into a single entity under Jin Air.
The merger, meant to improve efficiency and safety, is now being seen as a necessary step to restore public trust in LCCs, which have been involved in multiple recent accidents.
“Passengers’ distrust in LCCs is reaching its peak, so their top priority is to reduce the sentiment and for now, the most efficient way to do so is to launch the new LCC as soon as possible,” an aviation industry official commented.
What Happens Next?
Investigators are working to determine whether the portable battery theory holds up or if another factor contributed to the fire. Authorities have yet to announce when they will release official findings.
For now, the Air Busan incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries on flights, potentially influencing future airline policies on carry-on battery storage.
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