KATHMANDU, March 15: A portable power bank is likely to have caused the fire that destroyed a passenger plane in South Korea in January, BBC reported.
The Air Busan plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport on January 28, causing three people on board to sustain minor injuries. In an update released on Friday, South Korea’s transport ministry stated that interim investigation results suggest the fire may have started due to a breakdown in the insulation inside the power bank's battery.
The power bank was found in an overhead luggage compartment, where the fire was first detected. Investigators noted that the debris from the device had scorch marks. However, authorities have not determined what specifically caused the battery breakdown.
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The findings are based on preliminary results and are not part of the final accident report on the aircraft, an Airbus A321ceo.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns over the safety of lithium-ion batteries, which are known to cause fires if damaged or subjected to manufacturing defects. Due to these risks, airlines globally have banned power banks from checked luggage for years.
Since 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization has mandated that lithium-ion batteries be banned from the cargo holds of passenger planes. In response to the Air Busan fire, the airline introduced stricter policies, prohibiting passengers from storing power banks in onboard luggage.
Other airlines, including China Airlines and Thai Airways, are implementing similar rules, with Singapore Airlines set to join the ban from April 1.
Additionally, South Korea's government announced on February 28 that passengers on domestic flights must carry portable batteries and chargers on their person rather than store them in overhead compartments.
