With recent plane-related accidents, another airplane was involved in an accident on Jan. 28 in Gimhae International Airport. The Air Busan Airbus A321 was significantly damaged by the explosion just before taking off to Hong Kong.
The portable charger that exploded in the airplane was located in an overhead luggage bin. 176 individuals––169 passengers and seven crew members––were situated in the airplane. Although three to seven passengers were injured and hospitalized, the damage was fairly minimal as most of them managed to evacuate safely.
“It is quite upsetting and disturbing to witness a trend in unfortunate airline incidents, ” Lauren Leem (9), Busan Airline user, said. “I hope that basic procedures when boarding on a plane are reinforced for the better safety of future passengers to prevent any further accidents.”
After the battery set on fire, some passengers claimed that they heard crackling noises and saw signs of flames before they had to evacuate. To further analyze the situation, authorities and foreign experts are working together to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Although the damage was minimal, it brought up safety concerns regarding lithium-ion batteries being brought into aircrafts. Experts advise that passengers planning to bring a portable charger make sure that the item is in good condition and sourced from reputable brands.
“If an airline bans the use of certain electronic devices like a portable battery, then it would be reasonable to come up with an alternative to provide travelers with a way to charge their devices,” Angela Campbell, world traveler, said. “It would be very convenient for the airline to include a service where people could rent portable chargers at the airport.”
An airplane accident following multiple others led to growing public concerns about traveling overseas. Because of this, the South Korean government announced plans to recover from recent aircraft safety systems to improve air travel safety. This emergency plan aims to restore public trust in the aviation safety system and aid for passengers’ basic necessities in general.
