A Series of Passenger Plane Accidents at Home and Abroad
Travel Plans Canceled Due to Anxiety
Air Busan Fire Suspected to Be Caused by Portable Battery
"I'm afraid of flying."
Housewife Kim, who had booked tickets for a Southeast Asia trip in April to celebrate her parents' 80th birthdays, canceled the plan. This is because passenger plane accidents have been occurring one after another, following the Jeju Air disaster a month ago and the recent Air Busan fire during the Lunar New Year holiday. Although she had planned the trip with her family for quite some time and was excited about making it happen soon, she thought it was better to feel at ease than to be anxious and worried. Kim said, "All my family members felt uneasy, so after discussing it, we decided to change our plans," adding, "I don't think I'll be able to take an overseas trip by plane for a while."
These days, it is not hard to find posts on social media expressing 'aviophobia.' One user wrote, "The year has just started, but I don't know how many plane accidents have already happened," and added, "I had plans to travel abroad twice this year, but I'm already scared." Another user said, "There have been so many plane accidents lately that I feel anxious and scared."
'Aircraft accidents' occur both domestically and internationally. Foreign countries are not safe zones either. On the night of the 29th (local time), near Washington D.C., the U.S. capital, a passenger plane collided with a military helicopter, and the fate of all 67 people on board remains unknown. Seo Young-won (36), who is scheduled to depart for New York on the 3rd of next month, said, "I heard that the flight I am taking has frequently been delayed recently due to maintenance issues," and added, "Now it’s impossible to cancel the plan, so I’m very worried." Lim (38), living in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, also said, "I don’t know why aircraft accidents keep happening like this these days," and pointed out, "I’m suspicious whether safety inspections are being properly conducted."
Meanwhile, as the cause of the Air Busan passenger plane fire accident is suspected to be a 'portable battery,' concerns about items brought on board are spreading. Currently, on the Aviation Security 365 portal's 'Prohibited Items for Carry-on Search,' 'portable batteries' rank first. Other items with fire risks, such as chargers and sprays, are also ranked in the search results. According to aviation hazardous materials transport standards, portable batteries with a lithium content of 2g or less and a capacity of 100Wh or less can be carried in the aircraft cabin up to five per person. Electronic devices such as laptops, tablet PCs, and electronic cigarettes can be carried on board.
Some argue that passengers should personally manage portable batteries or electronic devices brought on board, and storing them in overhead compartments is dangerous. In fact, in-flight announcements sometimes instruct passengers to carry lighters and portable batteries on their person. However, few people listen carefully to these announcements. Also, it is not easy to hold passengers legally responsible for not following these rules. For this reason, there are calls to strengthen regulations on carrying and managing portable batteries, which pose fire or explosion risks, on board aircraft.
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