South Korea Tightens Aviation Safety Measures After Air Busan Incident

South Korea's transport ministry has announced enhanced aviation safety measures following a January fire on an Air Busan plane. The new rules, effective March 1, include limits on portable batteries allowed on flights, addressing rising concerns over potential battery fires. No boarding will be allowed for batteries over 160 watt-hours.

In response to last month's Air Busan plane fire, South Korea's transport ministry will implement stricter aviation safety regulations. Starting March 1, the new protocols limit portable batteries on flights, prohibiting those over 160 watt-hours. The move addresses growing concerns about fire risks from such batteries during air travel.

The safety measures include banning the use of portable battery chargers on flights and enforcing stringent security checks to verify the number and types of batteries passengers carry. Passengers cannot store power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead luggage bins, aligning with Air Busan's earlier stance.

This initiative responds to an incident on January 28, where a fire was detected in an overhead bin of an Air Busan aircraft at Gimhae International Airport. Although the fire's cause remains unknown, safety priorities echo global aviation standards that caution against checking in batteries.

(With inputs from agencies.)