Air Bus Fire related to Power Bank Sparks new lithium battery rules

A recent aviation fire incident has ruled concerns about lithium-ion battery safety. According to the preliminary findings of the Ministry of Transport of South Korea, a defective energy bank was the main instigator of a fire that included an Air Busan aircraft in January.

The fire originates in the air luggage compartment of an Air Busan A321 airport at Gimhae International Airport, requiring an emergency evacuation of all 176 passengers. Blaze caused extensive structural damage, consuming almost half of the aircraft fuselage and led to seven people.

The investigators identified the frightened remains of an energy bank at the point of origin of the fire. They hypothesize that a fault of the battery insulation has led to the thermal escape, a phenomenon in which the excessive heat triggers a self-sustained chain reaction, eventually causing the ignition.

In response, airlines implement strict protocols to alleviate the risks associated with storing and using lithium ion battery during flights.

Inherent risks of lithium-ion batteries in aviation

Ion batteries with lithiumPredominating in electronic devices, such as laptops, smartphones, e-cigarettes and energy benches, they present a significant danger in aviation environments. These dense energy batteries can overheat, ignite or even explode due to physical defects, overload or latent manufacturing defects.

As prevalence a lithium-ion-powered Devices in growth of air travel, regulatory bodies and aviation safety experts have intensified the control of these potential fire hazards.

The Federal US Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported a significant increase in overheating incidents involving lithium-ion batteries. Only in 2023, FAA documented on average three such appearances every two weeks, compared to a rate of less than one per week in 2018.

Recognizing these risks, airlines have long forbade the storage of energy banks in checked luggage. However, the recent incident Air Busan has caused authorities to impose additional restrictions on how passengers can carry and use batteries on flight.

Regulatory adjustments and reviews of air policy

In response directly to the incident, South Korea PUT The revision regulation revised on March 1 to strengthen passenger safety.

Country mandated That passengers must keep batteries and portable charges on their person during flights, rather than place them in air compartments. This precautionary measure aims to reduce the probability of taking place undetected thermal events in the inaccessible areas of the aircraft.

Moreover, charging of personal electronic devices is now strictly forbidden.

Some international airlines have implemented analog policy changes, restricting the use of energy banks and rejection of loading through USB ports. Among the airlines adopting These stricter measures are Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Thai Airways, Eva Air and China Airlines.

In addition to these restrictions, airlines recommend passengers to carry out visual inspections of their devices before traveling, checking swelling, leakage or other battery degradation indicators that could increase the risk of fire.

The ongoing investigation of the plane fire

The provisional findings launched by the southern -Korean authorities mark a crucial stage in the investigation on the Air Fire. A comprehensive final report is to be expected in the following year.