On the night of the 28th, an investigation aimed at identifying the cause of the AIR BUSAN aircraft fire that occurred at Gimhae International Airport is set to begin in earnest. Authorities are contemplating the method of handling the aviation fuel carried on the wings of the accident aircraft to prevent additional incidents ahead of the joint fire investigation.

On Oct. 30, investigation authorities including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Forensic Service, the Busan Police Agency, and the Busan Fire Disaster Headquarters examine the AIR BUSAN aircraft involved in a fire accident that occurred on the 28th at Gimhae International Airport in Gangseo-gu, Busan. /Courtesy of News1

On the 30th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Forensic Service, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, and the Busan Fire and Disaster Headquarters held a preliminary meeting for a joint fire investigation that lasted about 1 hour and 20 minutes starting at 10 a.m. at the Busan Regional Aviation Administration. Around 20 officials from various institutions attended to discuss the investigation plan for the fire cause and safety measures.

Around 11:30 a.m., officials visited the fire scene to assess the aircraft's condition and to evaluate the feasibility of an investigation. The accident aircraft, an Airbus A321-200 (HL7763), has approximately 35,900 pounds of aviation fuel on both wings. Authorities are conducting an on-site survey to formulate safety measures, considering the possibility of additional fire accidents during the joint investigation process.

There is a risk of explosion if the aviation fuel on the accident aircraft ignites due to heat, sparks, or flames, raising concerns about further damage. It is reported that discussions are ongoing regarding whether to conduct the investigation after removing the aviation fuel, to proceed while leaving the aviation fuel in place, or if the fuel is to be removed, how it will be collected. To remove the aviation fuel, the aircraft's fuel pump must be operated, but the cockpit's upper section, where the power switch is located, has been damaged in the fire, making it difficult to extract the fuel.

Director General Kang Yong-hak stated after the preliminary meeting on the 30th that they plan to discuss whether to remove the aviation fuel from the aircraft before the joint investigation, noting, "There is a possibility of explosion if ignition occurs again due to the aviation fuel during the investigation process." He added, "It seems that it will take more time to remove the aviation fuel than during refueling."

On the afternoon of that day, around 10 officials from the French investigation committee are expected to arrive and participate in the accident investigation. The headquarters of Airbus, the manufacturer of the accident aircraft, is located in France. In accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations, which stipulate that the country where the aircraft was manufactured and designed should participate in the accident investigation, officials from the French investigation committee will join the inquiry.

The investigation committee retrieved the black boxes, including the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), from the accident aircraft the previous day, but it has not been disclosed whether any data was extracted.

On the 28th at approximately 10:15 p.m., a fire broke out on an AIR BUSAN aircraft preparing for takeoff to Hong Kong at Gimhae Airport. All 176 people onboard, including 169 passengers, one maintenance worker, and six crew members, executed an emergency evacuation, during which seven individuals sustained minor injuries.

So far, it has been reported that the fire ignited in the overhead compartment above the seats inside the aircraft, with a portable auxiliary battery being identified as a potential cause. The investigation committee is considering the possibility that the fire may have started from the battery on the overhead shelf, among other potential causes like short circuits in the aircraft’s wiring.

An official from the investigation committee stated, "We will keep all possibilities open while investigating the cause of the fire."