Air Busan Fire Photo Secured: In-Flight Ignition Suspected

A fire on an Air Busan flight at Gimhae International Airport in Busan on January 28, 2025, has raised suspicions that the blaze began in the baggage of rear-seat passengers.

YTN has exclusively obtained a photo showing the interior of the aircraft at the time of the fire, revealing the likely point of ignition.

The photo shows visible flames emerging from an overhead bin, with a faint view of seats 29 and 30. This supports passenger testimonies, which indicate that black smoke initially emanated from the overhead bin before developing into a full-blown fire.

Passengers reported that the fire began above seats in the 30s. However, the exact object within the overhead bin that caused the fire remains unclear. One passenger, seated in rows 27 and 28, confirmed seeing the fire start above the 30s seats, adding that crew members struggled to extinguish the flames.

The possibility of a battery pack, such as a portable charger, being the source of the fire is under consideration. Overheated or impact-damaged battery packs have been known to cause in-flight fires.

Similar incidents have occurred in the past, including a fire aboard an Asiana Airlines flight last year, where a battery pack in a bag stored in the overhead compartment ignited.

Air Busan has stated that the photo only captures a small portion of the aircraft and cannot definitively confirm the origin of the fire. They emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and no conclusions have been drawn regarding the cause.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) has confirmed passenger testimonies regarding the smoke coming from the overhead compartment. The fire is suspected to have been caused by carry-on luggage, though the investigation continues.

The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Committee is working to determine the exact cause of the fire. Investigators are focusing on the tail section of the aircraft, where the fire is believed to have started. Additionally, flight data and cockpit voice recordings will be analyzed to aid in the investigation.