South Korea's transport ministry has announced a series of measures to enhance aviation safety, following a fire incident on an Air Busan plane last month. The announcement was made on February 13, with new safety protocols set to take effect on March 1. These measures aim to address growing concerns over potential portable battery fires, following an unexplained fire that occurred on January 28 at Gimhae International Airport.
The incident took place as an Air Busan aircraft was preparing for departure to Hong Kong. The fire was detected by a flight attendant in an overhead luggage bin located at the rear left-hand side of the plane. Fortunately, the fire was contained before it could escalate, but the cause remains undetermined. In response, the transport ministry has decided to limit the number of portable batteries passengers can carry on flights.
Under the new regulations, passengers will be allowed to carry up to five portable batteries, each with a maximum capacity of 100 watt-hours. Batteries exceeding 160 watt-hours will be prohibited from all flights. These measures mirror actions already taken by Air Busan, which has banned passengers from storing power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead cabin bins, a policy now adopted by the transport ministry.
The move to strengthen aviation safety comes as a precautionary step to prevent similar incidents in the future. By regulating the carriage of portable batteries and e-cigarettes, authorities hope to mitigate potential risks associated with these devices. Passengers are advised to comply with the new guidelines for a safer travel experience.
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