Air Busan Plane Fire Possibly Caused by Spare Power Bank, South Korean Investigation Reveals

A preliminary investigation into the Air Busan plane fire on January 28 suggests a spare power bank may have been the cause. The fire, which occurred before a scheduled flight from Busan to Hong Kong, resulted in the evacuation of all 170 passengers and six crew members. Scorch marks on the debris of a power bank found near where the fire originated indicate a potential breakdown of insulation within the battery. While the exact cause of the breakdown remains under investigation, no issues were found with the plane's electrical systems. The incident prompted South Korea to tighten regulations on carrying batteries on flights, including requiring passengers to keep power banks and e-cigarettes with them and prohibiting on-board charging. Global incidents of overheating lithium batteries on planes have increased significantly in recent years.