Investigators from the Busan Metropolitan Police have executed search warrants at the offices of Air Busan (BX, Busan). The two-hour search on February 6, 2025, followed a fire onboard an A321-200 preparing to depart Busan for Hong Kong International on January 28.
"We conducted the search and seizure separately from the joint investigation to prepare for the basic investigation necessary to determine responsibility," a police spokesperson told local reporters.
Officers secured flight operations-related data and a passenger list during the search.
While the police inquiry wants to find who should be held responsible, a separate Air Accident Investigation Committee probe is trying to determine the cause of the fire.
On the same day as the search, Air Busan announced a ban on all portable chargers going into overhead lockers. Portable chargers must now be placed in a passenger's carry-on that goes under the seat. While many airlines forbid passengers from putting portable chargers in checked-in luggage, Air Busan is the first carrier to forbid placing them in overhead lockers. Other Korean airlines are expected to make similar changes to their policies in the coming days.
The fire, which occurred while the aircraft was awaiting take-off, resulted in no fatalities but destroyed the aircraft, HL7763 (msn 3297).
Korean aviation safety standards are currently under scrutiny following the December 29, 2024, crash of a B737-800 operated by Jeju Air (7C, Jeju) that killed 179 people
