South Korean Police Conduct Raid at Gimhae Airport Following Air Busan Plane Fire Incident
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Synopsis
On February 7, South Korean police raided Gimhae International Airport to gather evidence related to a fire incident involving an Air Busan plane. The investigation follows an evacuation of all passengers and crew members, with minor injuries reported.
Key Takeaways
- Police raided Gimhae Airport for evidence.
- Surveillance footage is a key focus of the investigation.
- All passengers were safely evacuated from the Air Busan flight.
- Joint investigations are being conducted with French aviation authorities.
- Concerns grow over lithium-ion battery safety in aviation.
Busan, Feb 7 (NationPress) On Friday, the South Korean Police conducted a raid at Gimhae International Airport to gather evidence concerning the fire incident involving an Air Busan aircraft.
The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency reported that investigators are focused on acquiring surveillance footage from the period surrounding the fire, which occurred on January 28, just prior to the plane's departure from Busan, located approximately 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
“The process of obtaining documents from the airport will take several days due to their volume,” a police representative noted, adding that analysis of the materials will require even more time.
On Thursday, authorities searched the headquarters of Air Busan, where they collected flight operation data and passenger lists.
The aircraft, which was headed for Hong Kong, had 176 individuals on board, and fortunately, all were safely evacuated, although seven suffered minor injuries.
The transportation ministry, in collaboration with a French agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents, initiated a joint inquiry earlier this week to ascertain the cause of the fire, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
On December 29, the nation experienced its most tragic aviation catastrophe in recent times. A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, traveling from Thailand to Muan, crash-landed and ignited into a significant fireball after colliding with a concrete barrier at the runway's end. This tragic event resulted in 179 fatalities out of the 181 passengers and crew on board.
As the investigation progresses, alarming findings have surfaced: both engines of the plane contained duck blood and feathers. However, the precise cause of the crash remains unclear.
In addition, aviation safety officials are becoming increasingly alarmed about the rising role of lithium-ion batteries in airline safety. Devices such as power banks, smartphones, laptops, and e-cigarettes are causing concern.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded 78 incidents related to lithium battery fires, smoke, or extreme heat in 2024 alone — a figure that more than doubles the reports from 2016.
The increasing frequency of these events highlights the critical need for more stringent regulations regarding air travel safety.
