After a popular travel item caught fire and wrecked one of the airline’s planes on the runway, the airline banned it.
For a long-haul flight, you may think of a power bank to charge your electronics while in flight, a travel pillow for comfort, and headphones for watching back-to-back movies.
However, due to a recent in-flight fire, South Korea’s Air Busan has banned passengers from keeping charge banks in overhead luggage bins, following a horrifying event.
This follows the January 28 fire that broke out on one of the airline’s aircraft as it was getting ready to take off for Hong Kong.
According to Air Busan, the fire was initially discovered by a flight attendant in an overhead luggage bin on the back left side of the aircraft.
Fortunately, everyone on board was successfully evacuated and there were no casualties.
South Korean authorities are leading an inquiry into the cause of the incident. However, no cause has been identified as of yet.
Experts say that multiple variables almost invariably contribute to air accidents.
Passengers’ carry-on bags will be scrutinized at the boarding gates starting on Friday, and those without power banks will be labeled and permitted in the overhead luggage bins.
According to the airline, the restrictions would first be implemented on test routes before being extended to all flights.
Additionally, travelers must carry their portable power banks so that any fire, smoke, or overheating can be detected and dealt with right away.
Air Busan stated that they are also putting more fire safety training for crew members and more fire containment equipment on board in response to the rise in overheating power banks.
Power banks and other gadgets like laptops, cell phones, tablets, and e-cigarettes use lithium batteries, a type of rechargeable battery.
Because they can create fires if they short circuit due to damage or manufacturing flaws, they are prohibited from being kept in checked baggage under international airline guidelines.
In order to isolate the devices, cabin personnel typically have thermal containment boxes or bags and fire extinguishers.
In addition, after two significant air disasters that occurred within a month of one another, South Korea has announced steps to update its aviation safety system.
“The government will make a determined effort to rebuild the aviation safety system from the ground up in order to restore trust in our country’s aviation safety system,” Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Baek Won-kuk stated in a ministry statement.