South Korean airline Air Busan has banned the transport of lithium batteries on its planes following a fire at Gimhae Airport.
Air Busan is the first airline to prohibit lithium batteries from being carried in carry-on luggage, according to Reuters. The ban follows a fire that destroyed one of the company’s aircraft.
Lithium batteries are a type of rechargeable battery found in laptops and power banks. They are prohibited in checked luggage due to fire risks, as per aviation safety regulations.
The airline will be responsible for inspecting all carry-on luggage at boarding gates to ensure that power banks are not stored in the overhead compartments.
Air Busan will provide fire safety training for its staff and enhance its onboard fire containment equipment.
Passengers are required to keep their portable chargers with them, ensuring that any potential overheating, smoke, or fire is detected more quickly.
On January 28, a fire broke out at the rear of an Air Busan aircraft. The flight, destined for Hong Kong, had departed from Gimhae International Airport in South Korea.
A flight attendant noticed flames in the baggage compartment, and everyone on board was evacuated.
Authorities have been investigating the incident since it occurred, but no definitive cause for the fire has yet been determined.
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