"Possible Ignition from Passenger Luggage"... Responsibility for Air Busan Aircraft Fire

"Difficult to Hold Passengers Accountable If Items Were Brought Onboard According to Regulations"

On the afternoon of the 28th, an opinion emerged that it would be difficult to hold anyone responsible if the cause of the Air Busan passenger plane fire at Gimhae Airport is identified as a passenger's luggage.

Yonhap News

On the 30th, Yonhap News reported that based on witness statements of the Air Busan passenger plane fire at Gimhae Airport, the cause of the fire is being focused on the possibility that it started from luggage brought by passengers, such as portable auxiliary batteries or electronic devices. However, even if the cause of the fire is confirmed to be carry-on luggage such as auxiliary batteries brought on board, there is an analysis that it would not be easy to hold the passenger who brought it responsible.

A police officer at the superintendent level explained, "Unless it is an item prohibited from being brought on board, it is not easy to find provisions to punish passengers if the auxiliary battery or electronic device brought on board according to related regulations caused the fire." An investigator from the Busan Police Agency also said, "If the fire was caused by a problem in the aircraft's electrical facilities, we would consider applying charges of professional negligence causing injury to the airline, but if it is an issue with items passengers carried according to airline and airport procedures, it is difficult to determine legal responsibility under current laws."

The Busan Police Agency will decide whether to proceed with the investigation of the aircraft fire based on the results of a detailed inspection by related agencies held at Gimhae Airport on the 30th.

Some voices call for strengthening regulations on carry-on items. According to aviation hazardous materials transport standards, auxiliary batteries with a lithium content of 2g or less and a capacity of 100Wh or less can be brought into the aircraft cabin up to five per person. Electronic devices such as laptops, tablet PCs, and electronic cigarettes can be carried on board.

On the night of the 28th, firefighters are extinguishing a fire that broke out on the tail section of an Air Busan aircraft bound for Hong Kong at Gimhae Airport. Photo by Yonhap News

Experts emphasize that lithium-ion batteries frequently swell or explode regardless of whether they are installed in electronic devices or are auxiliary batteries, so when carried on board, passengers must hold and manage them by hand, and storing them in places out of reach such as overhead bins is dangerous. CBS in the U.S. stated, "The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires airlines to include safety information in pre-flight announcements, but generally does not specifically address risks related to battery fires," and urged, "Passengers should immediately inform flight attendants if electronic devices become warm or discolored during the flight."