AIR BUSAN announced on the 4th that it will strengthen control measures to check the presence of backup batteries in carry-on luggage and allow them to be stored in the cabin compartments starting from the 7th.
AIR BUSAN sustained damage when a fire broke out from an unidentified object in the cabin compartment at Gimhae International Airport on the 28th of last month, resulting in the loss of most of the aircraft's upper fuselage. Although the ignition point was completely burned, and the exact cause of the fire remains undisclosed, a lithium backup battery is being pointed to as the cause based on video footage at the time of the fire and crew member testimonies.
AIR BUSAN announced this as it unveiled its cabin fire risk minimization policy. Under this policy, AIR BUSAN will check for the presence of batteries in carry-on luggage at the boarding gate, attaching a separate marking to the luggage. In the cabin, controls will be heightened to ensure only marked luggage confirming the presence of batteries can be stored in the compartments.
AIR BUSAN will implement a consent procedure for the ban on carrying backup batteries in cabin compartments at the reservation, ticketing, and check-in stages, in addition to existing guidance, and will send additional notification messages to customers who made reservations one day before departure. The in-flight announcements will also be expanded from two to three times to include information on the carrying of backup batteries.
AIR BUSAN plans to purchase equipment (lithium battery fire containment pouch) that can minimize the risks of thermal runaway and explosions in the event of a battery fire, and it will be equipped on the aircraft. Additionally, fire-retardant gloves will be stored in the cabin to assist crew members in immediate fire suppression.
To ensure rapid initial responses and effective fire suppression in the event of a cabin fire, training for cabin crew will be significantly enhanced. AIR BUSAN will directly create instructional fire suppression demonstration videos for all crew members and conduct immediate training, along with scenario-based drills considering different fire stages.
There are also plans to improve the fire suppression training facilities in the office building, creating an environment suitable for crew members to train in scenarios similar to real situations, including the installation of smoke machines. Moreover, it plans to further strengthen expertise through completion of training by specialized institutions such as regional fire departments.
AIR BUSAN CEO Jeong Byeong-seob noted, "To alleviate customers' concerns and anxieties regarding cabin fires and to ensure a safe travel environment, AIR BUSAN has proactively established enhanced policies. We will continue to strive to instill a sense of safety awareness and improve the capabilities of our staff, as well as to spread a culture of aviation safety."