VIDEO: South Korean authorities link plane fire to portable power bank

South Korean authorities have suggested that a portable power bank was likely the cause of a fire that engulfed and destroyed an Air Busan passenger plane in January.

The aircraft, an Airbus A321ceo, caught fire on January 28 at Gimhae International Airport in the country's south. While all passengers and crew were evacuated safely, three individuals sustained minor injuries.

In an update on Friday, South Korea's transport ministry stated that preliminary findings indicate the fire may have started due to insulation failure within a power bank battery. The charred remains of the device were found in an overhead luggage compartment—where the fire was first detected—showing clear scorch marks. However, investigators have not yet determined what caused the battery failure.

These findings remain part of an ongoing investigation and do not constitute the final accident report, the ministry added.

- Stricter airline policies on power banks -

Lithium-ion batteries, which power portable chargers, have long been a safety concern for airlines due to their potential to overheat and catch fire if damaged or defective.

Since 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has banned lithium-ion batteries from being stored in passenger plane cargo holds. Most airlines already prohibit power banks in checked luggage, requiring passengers to carry them onboard instead.

However, in the wake of the Air Busan fire, the airline has taken further precautions. A week after the incident, it introduced new rules barring passengers from keeping power banks in their carry-on luggage. The airline cited a rise in overheating incidents as the reason for the change.

Other carriers are following suit. Major airlines such as China Airlines and Thai Airways have already implemented similar measures, while Singapore Airlines and its budget subsidiary, Scoot, will prohibit the use and charging of power banks onboard starting April 1.

On February 28, South Korea’s government also announced a nationwide policy requiring airline passengers to carry portable batteries and chargers on their person rather than storing them in overhead compartments.