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Fires in the Sky: 5 Power Bank Incidents This Year Raise Red Flags

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The number of in-flight fires caused by passenger power banks has been on the rise.

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On Thursday, South Korean Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yeon Hee received data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, revealing 13 in-flight battery fires since 2020.

In-flight battery fires were minimal during the COVID-19 pandemic, with only two recorded incidents in 2020 and none in 2021 and 2022. However, there were six incidents in 2023 and five this year between January and August.

As air travel increased post-pandemic, so have the number of battery fires.

Among airlines, Korean Air reported four incidents, while Jeju Air and Air Busan each had two. Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, T’way Air, Eastar Jet, and Air Premia each recorded one incident.

Power banks and spare batteries are classified as hazardous materials and cannot be checked into baggage. Instead, passengers must carry them on board to enable swift response in the event of a fire. According to reports, flight crews extinguished most fires within five minutes.

There has also been a rise in failed searches for batteries placed in checked luggage, where the risk of ignition and explosion increases due to physical shocks or changes in temperature. From 2020 to 2022, no such failures were recorded, but the number has climbed to one in 2023 and three so far this year.

Domestic airlines typically respond to in-flight battery fires by using fire extinguishers, then dousing the area with water or non-alcoholic liquids to prevent re-ignition.

A Ministry official stated that passengers need to exercise extra caution as newer power banks have become thinner and smaller, leading to more hazardous accidents caused by pressure from getting stuck in the gaps of seats.

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