South Korea Tightens Airline Battery Regulations After Air Busan Fire

South Korea, following a fire on an Air Busan plane, has introduced new aviation safety rules. Set to begin March 1, they limit portable battery numbers and types on flights, aiming to prevent fires. These rules also include bans on certain items in overhead luggage and in-flight charging.

South Korea's transport ministry has introduced new aviation safety measures, effective from March 1, in response to a recent fire on an Air Busan plane. These measures include restrictions on the number and type of portable batteries passengers can carry on flights to enhance safety and prevent potential fire hazards.

Under the revised rules, passengers are limited to carrying up to five 100-watt-hour portable batteries, while those exceeding 160-watt-hours are prohibited. Additionally, security checks will intensify, focused on battery types, and charging them onboard will be banned, the ministry announced.

This move mirrors an earlier policy by Air Busan to prevent battery-related fires after an incident where a fire was discovered in an overhead bin on their Airbus. Global standards advise against placing batteries in checked luggage due to short circuit risks, a precaution South Korea is taking seriously.