Busan
South Korean police have launched an investigation into the Air Busan plane fire that occurred on January 28 at Gimhae International Airport, raiding the airport on Friday to secure crucial evidence.
Investigators from the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency are analyzing surveillance footage and gathering extensive documentation related to the incident. Air Busan’s headquarters was also searched on Thursday, where police obtained flight operation data and passenger lists.
The Air Busan flight, bound for Hong Kong, was carrying 176 passengers and crew when a fire broke out just before takeoff. Fortunately, everyone was safely evacuated, though seven people sustained minor injuries. A joint investigation by South Korea’s transportation ministry and a French civil aviation agency is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
The incident comes just weeks after South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster, when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed in Muan on December 29, killing 179 out of 181 passengers. Investigators found duck blood and feathers in the plane’s engines, but the exact cause remains unclear.
Meanwhile, aviation officials are growing concerned about lithium-ion battery hazards in air travel. The US FAA recorded 78 lithium battery-related incidents in 2024, more than double the 2016 figures. The rising number of incidents highlights the urgent need for stricter airline safety regulations.