Air Busan has banned passengers from having portable power banks and chargers in carry-on baggage bound for overhead storage after a suspected battery caused a fire on a passenger plane at Gimhae International Airport on 28 January 2025.
The Air Busan fire broke out on the Hong Kong-bound aircraft before take-off and all 176 passengers and crew were evacuated, seven with minor injuries.
South Korean and French authorities are investigating the Air Busan fire blaze but no cause has been determined yet.
The new rule comes into effect on select routes on 7 February 2025 and all cabin baggage will be checked for portable power banks and chargers at the boarding gate.
Only inspected bags carrying a special tag or sticker will be allowed to be stored in overhead luggage compartments.
This means passengers boarding the South Korean low-cost carrier with chargeable lithium batteries must keep the devices in their possession during the flight.
After the pilot trial, the ban will extend to all Air Busan flights. Air Busan said the changes, which include additional crew fire training and fire containment equipment on board, were in response to increased incidents of power banks overheating.
Passengers must also acknowledge and agree to the ‘no-battery-in-bin’ policy when receiving their tickets and during boarding. A text message reminder will be sent a day before departure and inflight announcements will increase from two to three times.
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are considering similar measures after the Air Busan fire and already have inflight announcements on all departures advising passengers to keep portable battery chargers and lighters with them in their seats.
While Air Busan does not fly to Australia, South Korea is an increasingly popular destination for Aussies with several new routes connecting the two countries.
