Authorities retrieved black boxes from an Air Busan passenger plane that caught fire at a South Korean airport as they sought safety measures in the run-up to launching a probe, the land ministry said.
On Tuesday, the Airbus plane operated by budget carrier Air Busan and bound for Hong Kong caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in the country’s southern city of Busan before takeoff. All 176 people on board were safely evacuated using an escape slide, though seven suffered minor injuries.
The cause of the blaze was not yet known, though some raised the possibility of the fire having been caused by a portable battery or other items stored in an overhead bin.
The aviation and railway accident investigation board under the ministry held the meeting with local police, firefighting agencies and the National Forensic Service on Thursday to discuss how to ensure safety in conducting a joint probe, as 35,000 pounds of fuel was stored at the wings of the plane.
They are expected to decide on detailed plans for investigation after visiting the scene to check relevant circumstances and safety measures later in the day.
“If the plane catches fire again over the course of a probe, it could explode,” an official said. “We will decide whether to defuel the plane, though it seems challenging because the fuselage was damaged.”
Later in the day, a French team of investigators will arrive at the airport to take part in the investigation, as a rule by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) calls for the participation of a nation that manufactures an affected plane in a probe.
Investigators retrieved black boxes from the jet earlier in the day, according to officials
The plane caught fire while preparing to take off on Jan. 28, prompting 176 passengers and crew members to evacuate.
Some passengers said that they spotted a flame in an overhead bin in the plane’s rear left, which came along with crackling sounds and smoke.
“We will keep all possibilities open to find the exact cause of the fire,” a ministry official said.
In December, a fire broke out at an Air Busan plane before takeoff, which was caused by a portable battery held by a passenger.
As similar incidents have been reported recently, calls have grown for tougher rules on carry-on luggage acceptance.
Investigators plan to review relevant regulations and the air carrier’s potential responsibility regarding the implementation of safety rules and the handling of the incident, as well as the possibility of terrorism despite no signs of terrorist involvement having been detected so far, according to officials.
The incident took place less than a month after a Jeju Air passenger plane crashed at Muan International Airport, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. It was the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil.
South Korean aviation authorities reported 13 aircraft fires triggered by electronic device batteries between 2020 and 2024, according to data released by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry.
The investigation reveals power banks caused nine incidents, while telephone and e-cigarette batteries each caused one fire. Two incidents remain without identified causes.
The frequency of these incidents shows an upward trend, with one case in 2020, six cases in 2023, and six more in 2024. Fire durations ranged from 20 seconds to five minutes, with crew members successfully extinguishing all incidents before major aircraft damage occurred.
A recent Air Busan aircraft fire on January 28 has intensified national safety concerns, as preliminary investigations point to a power bank as the potential cause.
Korean airlines have implemented new safety protocols in response to these incidents. The measures include prohibiting passengers from storing power banks in overhead compartments to minimize fire risks during flights.
These incidents reflect broader global aviation safety concerns regarding the transportation of lithium-ion batteries and portable electronic devices on commercial aircraft. The rising number of battery-related fires highlights the growing challenge of managing passenger electronic devices in air travel.
An Air Busan Airbus A321 experienced a tail section fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, during pre-flight preparations to Hong Kong on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.
Airport emergency teams executed immediate evacuation procedures, safely removing all 176 passengers and crew members from the aircraft. Fire response units deployed to combat the blaze in the tail section.
Initial reports identify the aircraft as flight BX391, an Airbus A321-231 with registration number HL7729, equipped with IAE engines, though these details await official confirmation.
The evacuation process concluded without injuries or casualties, according to local authority statements. Emergency responders continue fire suppression operations in the aircraft’s tail section.
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