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Investigations are underway into the fire that gutted an Air Busan aircraft (Yonhap photo) |
Air
passengers are being advised to ensure their power banks are of good quality
and in good condition before bringing them along for travel, after a Hong
Kong-bound Air Busan flight caught fire Tuesday, and initial investigations
pointed to a charging device as the cause.
Investigations have
begun into what caused the fire aboard the aircraft that remains on the tarmac at
Korea’s Gimhae International Airport in the southern city of Busan.
PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS |
A total of 169
passengers and seven airline staff were evacuated from the Airbus A231 using
inflatable slides. Seven minor injuries were reported.
The fire broke out at 10:15pm
on Tuesday, Jan. 28, as the single-jet was preparing to leave for Hong Kong
after being delayed for about 20 minutes.
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PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
It was first detected
by a flight attendant in an overhead luggage bin in the rear left-hand side of
the plane.
Witnesses quoted
by local media said they heard a crackling sound, like an electronic device
burning, before smoke coming from the overhead compartment began to fill the
cabin.
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PINDUTIN DITO |
This prompted
suspicions that a portable battery may have caused the fire.
A local news report
said that just seven weeks ago, another Air Busan aircraft had a similar
problem, when a fire, triggered by a portable battery problem, was detected.
Flight attendants had to use fire extinguishers to put it out.
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Basahin ang detalye! |
At least two other
battery-related incidents were also reported in Korea last year, one involving
an Eastar Jet plane in July and another aboard an Asiana Airlines flight in
April.
Authorities conducted
a risk assessment of the plane on Friday, and ruled out a terrorist attack.
They determined that the plane still had a large amount of fuel and oxygen
onboard but was safe for a full-scale investigation.
Tuesday's incident came
about a month after a Jeju Air plane crashed at Muan International Airport in
South Jeolla Province, which killed all but two of the 181 people on board.