The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Power Bank Catches Fire on Jeju Air Flight, 168 Evacuated
A power bank caught fire aboard a Jeju Air flight at Cheongju airport before takeoff, forcing all 168 passengers to evacuate. No injuries were reported.
A portable power bank caught fire aboard a Jeju Air flight at Cheongju International Airport shortly before takeoff, prompting an evacuation of all 168 passengers and crew on board.
The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on the 10th, with smoke spreading through the cabin as the device ignited while the plane had not moved onto the runway.
Passengers and a flight attendant acted quickly to contain the fire: nearby passengers smothered the device with clothing, and it was placed in a dedicated pouch designed to contain lithium battery fires, after which the flames were extinguished.
Following the incident, all 168 people on board were evacuated. No injuries were reported at the time, and Jeju Air stated it was assessing whether the aircraft could return to service after ventilation work.
The report also outlines regulations on power banks aboard aircraft, noting that power banks must be carried in the cabin, with prohibitions on checked baggage and specific capacity limits for in-cabin use.