Airline Bans Power Banks From Cabin Luggage After Plane Fire

Gimhae, South Korea
A South Korean airline, Air Busan, is making history becoming the first global carrier to prohibit power banks inside cabin luggage in response to an incident last week. A passenger plane belonging to Air Busan, preparing to fly to Hong Kong, caught fire on January 28 before takeoff. A flight attendant was alerted to smoke emanating from overhead luggage bins near the rear tail section, prompting their immediate evacuation, thankfully all 169 passengers, 6 crew, and 1 engineer safely evacuated.

Although investigations regarding the exact cause of the blaze are ongoing, initial reports speculate a portable charger within a carry-on bag could be to blame. Unfortunately, the extensive damage renders repair of the plane impossible.

Air Busan has announced as a preventative measure, passengers carrying power banks should retain them securely on their persons or stow them underseat. Any power banks spotted in overhead luggage compartments will have their containers tagged, barring transport to avoid the risk of further incidents.

This is a developing trend within aviation globally, as a surge in concerns surrounding lithium-ion battery powered devices and inflight safety are taking center stage. Experts in the aviation safety sector are pressing for unified policies across airlines rather than relying solely on individual directives.

Professor Kim Kwang-il of Silla University notes, "While several airlines implement measures for transporting these batteries onboard, a lack of consistent guidelines reinforces the urgency of aviation authorities to establish unified safety standards."

Professor Kim believes, “since these devices commonly serve passengers’ needs during flights, implementing appropriate regulations should present minimal inconvenience ". These experts suggest keeping power banks at passenger reach increases visibility and simplifies rapid response actions.

Beyond Air Busan, airlines have started prioritizing safety awareness via in-flight announcements urging passengers to maintain readily accessible lighters and batteries prior to takeoff, underscoring growing vigilance and concern. Furthermore, many global airlines already mandate a ban against placing lithium-ion batteries and related devices in checked baggage due to risk associated with exposure to shock and heat, considered hazardous materials in flight.