Passengers criticize Air Busan over fire evacuation response

Inflight fires are not an issue exclusive to LCCs. Emergency response protocols and training are conducted in accordance with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's standards, just like full-service airlines. It is premature to assume this is specifically an LCC problem.”

An LCC official said

Aviation accident investigations must examine multiple factors, from passenger actions to aircraft manufacturers in countries like the U.S. and France, making the process inherently time-consuming.”

Gong Ha-seong, a professor of fire and disaster prevention at Woosuk University, said

I’m considering switching to a full-service airline that appears to have stricter maintenance and safety standards. I’m even looking into ferries as an alternative.”

A 30-year-old man surnamed Kim, who was planning a trip to Jeju Island, said

With repeated incidents, the public naturally becomes more inclined to avoid flying altogether.”

He added

Airplane accidents seemed rare, but now they feel too frequent. There’s no guarantee that my family won’t be affected,

he said, adding

Passengers seated in the emergency exit row must agree to serve as evacuation assistants,

an Air Busan official said

Opening the compartment could have caused the fire to spread rapidly due to increased oxygen supply.”

An Air Busan official said

Upon receiving the fire report, the captain shut down the hydraulic and fuel systems before declaring an emergency evacuation.”

According to Air Busan

We will keep all possibilities open to find the exact cause of the fire,

a ministry official said

If the plane catches fire again over the course of a probe, it could explode,

an official said

We confirm that an Airbus A321 aircraft operated by Air Busan caught fire on the ground. We are in contact with the airline and will provide full assistance to the investigation authorities."

An Airbus spokesperson told Newsweek

With some passengers even having suffered injuries while evacuating, swift follow-up measures are called for."

Acting President Choi Sang-mok said in a statement, per the Straits Times

It seems that a fire broke out when a passenger's portable battery, stored in the overhead bin as carry-on luggage, became compressed,

local daily JoongAng Ilbo reported, citing an unnamed person affiliated with Air Busan

As the smoke filled the cabin, a passenger seated near the emergency exit opened the door, and the flight attendant opened the opposite one, allowing others to start evacuating,

a passenger recounted to Yonhap, calling the incident "chaotic and terrifying."

In the wake of the Jeju Air passenger aircraft tragedy, an additional aviation accident has taken place, and we feel deeply sorry for the passengers on board and the public,

transport minister Park Sang-woo said in a statement Wednesday

It is unclear when we will be able to disclose the investigation findings on the cause of last night's fire,

the ministry spokesperson told AFP