SEVERAL MAJOR Asian airlines have banned portable power bank chargers after it was revealed that such a device may have caused the fire onboard an Air Busan Airbus A321 in January. All 176 passengers were evacuated safely from the jet, which had been on the ground at Gimhae International Airport, Busan. However, the aircraft was completely destroyed.
On March 1, South Korean authorities changed the rules for using portable battery chargers. Passengers must now carry them on their person and not store them in the overhead lockers. And following Air Busan’s lead, Batik Air, EVA Air, China Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Aviation Group, Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot have implemented the same new ruling. Passengers who violate the rule could have their devices confiscated, be fined or removed from the aircraft.