▲ A fire-damaged airplane stands at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, some 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Jan. 29, 2025, in this photo provided by the municipal government of Busan, a day after the plane caught fire while preparing to take off, prompting 176 passengers and crew members to evacuate. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) aircraft fire-probe

(LEAD) Pre-audit meeting held for probe into fire-destroyed Air Busan plane amid safety woes

(ATTN: ADDS more details about possible cause in paras 6-10)

SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) -- Authorities held a meeting Thursday on how to conduct a probe into an Air Busan passenger plane that caught fire at a South Korean airport earlier this week amid safety concerns, the land ministry said.

On Tuesday, the Airbus plane operated by budget carrier Air Busan and bound for Hong Kong caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in the country's southern city of Busan before takeoff. All 176 people on board were safely evacuated using an escape slide, though seven suffered minor injuries.

The cause of the blaze was not yet known, though some raised the possibility of the fire having been caused by a portable battery or other items stored in an overhead bin.

The aviation and railway accident investigation board under the ministry held the meeting with local police, firefighting agencies and the National Forensic Service on Thursday to discuss how to ensure safety in conducting a joint probe, as 35,000 pounds of fuel was stored at the wings of the plane.

They are expected to decide on detailed plans for investigation after visiting the scene to check relevant circumstances and safety measures later in the day.

Some passengers told Yonhap News Agency that they spotted a flame in an overhead bin in the plane's rear left, which came along with crackling sounds and smoke.

"We will keep all possibilities open to find the exact cause of the fire," a ministry official said.

In December, a fire broke out at an Air Busan plane before takeoff, which was caused by a portable battery held by a passenger.

As similar incidents have been reported recently, calls have grown for tougher rules on carry-on luggage acceptance.

Investigators plan to review relevant regulations and the air carrier's potential responsibility regarding the implementation of safety rules and the handling of the incident, as well as the possibility of terrorism despite no signs of terrorist involvement having been detected so far, according to officials.

The incident took place less than a month after a Jeju Air passenger plane crashed at Muan International Airport, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. It was the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil.

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