Seoul, Feb 14 (UNI) South Korean airlines will tighten rules for carrying portable lithium-ion batteries and e-cigarettes in carry-on baggage from March 1, the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Thursday.
The ministry announced the new safety standards after a major fire incident on board an Air Busan flight at Gimhae International Airport in Busan in January. The media reported that a battery in one of the passengers’ luggage may have caused the fire.
From March 1, batteries and e-cigarettes must be placed in clear plastic bags or protective covers or have closed terminals during flights, and must be stored in seat pockets or coats, not in overhead bins. In addition, passengers will be prohibited from charging batteries or e-cigarettes using USB ports installed in aircraft seats.
At the same time, electronic devices with batteries, such as mobile phones and laptops, will not be subject to the new rules because they have built-in short-circuit protection mechanisms.
The ministry noted it will recommend that the rules be also applied to foreign airlines in the future.
