Synopsis
South Korea's authorities recovered black boxes from an Air Busan plane that caught fire at Gimhae International Airport. The investigation, involving French officials, seeks to uncover safety measures and the fire's cause.Key Takeaways
- Black boxes recovered from Air Busan plane.
- Fire occurred before takeoff at Gimhae International Airport.
- All passengers evacuated safely.
- Investigation to explore possible causes, including portable batteries.
- Calls for stricter carry-on luggage regulations.
Seoul, Jan 30 (NationPress) South Korean authorities successfully retrieved black boxes from an Air Busan passenger aircraft that suffered a fire incident at a South Korean airport earlier this week. This retrieval occurred as officials aimed to implement safety measures before initiating a thorough investigation, as stated by the land ministry.
On Tuesday, the Airbus operated by budget airline Air Busan, which was scheduled for Hong Kong, ignited at Gimhae International Airport in Busan prior to takeoff. All 176 passengers were safely evacuated via an escape slide, although seven individuals sustained minor injuries, according to Yonhap news agency.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined, but there are suggestions that it could have been ignited by a portable battery or other items stored in an overhead compartment.
The aviation and railway accident investigation board held a meeting with local police, firefighting agencies, and the National Forensic Service on Thursday to strategize on how to ensure safety during a collaborative investigation, especially considering that 35,000 pounds of fuel were stored in the aircraft's wings.
They plan to finalize investigation details after assessing the scene for relevant circumstances and safety protocols later in the day.
"If the aircraft ignites again during the investigation, it could lead to an explosion," an official warned. "We will determine whether to defuel the airplane, though this appears to be difficult due to damage to the fuselage."
A French investigative team is set to arrive at the airport later today to participate in the investigation, as mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for nations manufacturing affected aircraft to be involved in probes.
Officials confirmed that the black boxes were recovered from the jet earlier today.
Some passengers reported seeing flames in an overhead bin located in the rear left of the plane, accompanied by crackling noises and smoke.
"We will keep all possibilities open to determine the precise cause of the fire," stated a ministry official.
Earlier this January, a fire incident occurred on an Air Busan flight before takeoff, attributed to a portable battery carried by a passenger.
As similar incidents have surfaced recently, there is an increasing demand for stricter guidelines regarding carry-on luggage.
Investigators intend to examine applicable regulations and assess the air carrier's potential accountability concerning the enforcement of safety measures and management of the occurrence, as well as the potential for terrorism, despite no indications of terrorist activity detected so far, as per officials.
This incident happened less than a month after a Jeju Air passenger plane crash at Muan International Airport, resulting in the death of all but two of the 181 passengers on board, marking the most significant aviation disaster in South Korea.
