South Korean Aviation Airlines Tighten Safety Rules Related To Batteries After The Air Busan Fire

JAKARTA - Airlines imposed stricter safety rules related to batteries, following a fire on Air Busan passenger jets that raised safety concerns.

Starting Thursday, Jeju Air passengers are required to agree to a rule urging them not to put lithium-ion batteries on the top storage rack before checking-in, either via mobile devices or outlets, quoted from The Korea Times on February 6.

Under the new safety rules, passengers are advised not to let their lithium-ion batteries not be visible while on board.

Jeju Air will also announce the latest rules in four languages, namely Korea, England, Japan, and Mandarin at the departure gate.

The move follows rising safety concerns after the Air Busan plane caught fire before taking off at Gimhae International Airport, Busan last month.

The exact cause behind the accident on January 28 has not been confirmed. However, the battery in the passenger's laptop is suspected to be the trigger for the fire.

Although no casualties were reported from the accident, it has raised public concerns over the safety of aircraft in the Ginseng Country.

Meanwhile, Korean Air has decided to step up safety measures, encouraging passengers not to put their batteries on top storage shelves.

The national airline will also make two announcements before flights asking passengers to store all devices operated with batteries on their bodies or in their seat pockets.

"Airlines introduce these measures, as they can take immediate action in case of battery fires," said an official from the industry.

"However, we cannot force them to do so due to a lack of legal basis," he continued.

Asiana Airlines followed similar steps by equipping all its aircraft with fire extinguishers. Meanwhile, Air Seoul and T'way Air have also decided to strengthen their safety announcements by urging passengers to carry their batteries.

Air Busan plans to check whether passengers have batteries in their cabin trunk at the departure gate. The move will begin on Friday.

However, it remains to be seen whether these measures will be effective, as safety rules cannot be enforced legally. According to the International Air Transport Association, lithium-ion batteries are classified as dangerous goods, but there are no restrictions related to their transportation by air.

In response, South Korean authorities held talks with aviation industry players to regulate the use of aircraft batteries. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation is expected to announce detailed measures in April.