"What to Do in Case of an Airplane Fire: Don't Delay Evacuation to Grab Luggage..."

"Do Not Delay Other Passengers' Evacuation"
Emphasis on the Importance of Crew's Swift Control and Passengers' Cooperation

Amid the fire accident on an Air Busan passenger plane, experts emphasized that in the event of a fire onboard, passengers should not delay evacuation by retrieving luggage but should promptly evacuate following the crew's instructions.

On the 29th, Yonhap News quoted experts saying, "The most important factor in dealing with an aircraft fire is the crew's swift control and the passengers' active cooperation."

Professor Kim Kwang-il of the Department of Aviation Operations at Shilla University explained, "If a fire breaks out inside the cabin, visibility can be limited due to smoke. If it is daytime, it is necessary to raise the window shades to secure visibility and then check the floor and emergency exit signs." He added, "The crucial point is to actively follow the crew's control. Passengers should not open overhead bins to retrieve valuables, delaying other passengers' evacuation time."

During the collision accident last year at Tokyo Haneda Airport between a Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger plane and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft, the crew instructed passengers to "evacuate without taking luggage," enabling all 379 JAL passengers to escape safely.

While investigating the detailed cause of this aircraft fire, Professor Kim Gyu-wang of the Department of Aviation Operations at Hanseo University speculated, "Although the ignition point has not been clearly identified, it appears to be related to passenger luggage weight. There is also a possibility that the fire was caused by a defective auxiliary battery stored in the overhead bin by a passenger."

Professor Park Chan-geun of Korea Aerospace University also said, "There are reports that the fire started from luggage in the overhead bin. If it was an auxiliary battery or electronic device, the fire might have been caused by impact or pressure during loading." He urged, "Following this accident, authorities should thoroughly check compliance with aircraft inspection regulations and maintenance status, especially for low-cost carriers."

Meanwhile, at around 10:15 p.m. the previous day, a fire broke out inside the tail section of Air Busan flight BX391, bound for Hong Kong, while preparing for takeoff at Busan Gimhae Airport with 176 passengers and crew onboard. Fortunately, all onboard successfully evacuated via slides, and no casualties other than minor injuries were reported.

Regarding the cause of the fire, it was reported that the flight crew noticed smoke and flames coming from a closed overhead bin and alerted the control tower about the fire. A passenger onboard the aircraft also testified, "There was a crackling sound from the overhead bin where cabin luggage was stored, followed shortly by smoke. I wonder if it was an auxiliary battery or an electronic device."