When Taking a Flight, You Must Wrap Portable Batteries with Tape... Baggage Regulations 'Reexamined'

On the morning of the 31st at Busan Gimhae International Airport, the joint investigation team including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board is conducting a safety inspection ahead of the joint fire investigation on the Air Busan aircraft that caught fire on the 28th. Photo by Yonhap News.

As the possibility that the fire on an Air Busan passenger plane at Gimhae Airport started from a battery inside the overhead compartment has been raised, attention is focusing on airline baggage regulations.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 31st, there have been 11 in-flight battery fires in the past two years. The trend has been increasing since COVID-19. At Air Busan, a month ago, a flight was delayed due to a portable battery, and on an Eastar Jet passenger plane, a passenger caused a fire by connecting and using two portable batteries. In the United States, in-flight battery fires have also been increasing since 2020, with 78 cases occurring last year.

With the recent increase in the use of portable batteries, there are calls to enhance safety. According to the Ministry’s Aviation Safety Hazardous Materials Transport Technical Standards Notice, passengers must insulate exposed terminals of lithium metal and lithium-ion portable batteries with insulating tape when carrying them as carry-on baggage or on their person. Passengers must also tape over charging ports on portable batteries that are connected by wires (terminals), carry portable batteries in their original packaging unopened, or store them in plastic bags or protective pouches while on board.

According to international standards, electronic devices containing lithium batteries of 160Wh (watt-hours) or more are prohibited from being brought on board. Each individual may carry up to five portable batteries, and more than that requires airline approval. Portable batteries with a power capacity exceeding 100Wh are limited to two units.

However, the inspection procedures for portable batteries brought on board are not being thoroughly enforced as per regulations. In reality, many people do not tape their portable batteries, and it is uncommon to see passengers checking power capacities when carrying them. There are calls for authorities to take more practical and proactive measures.