Fire breaks out aboard Da Nang-bound flight... 'Power bank ignition' suspected

[Financial News] A fire believed to have been caused by a power bank catching fire broke out aboard an Air Seoul aircraft bound for Da Nang during the Chuseok holiday, prompting passengers to urgently deplane.
According to airline industry sources on the 25th, a fire broke out at around 9 p.m. the previous day aboard Air Seoul flight RS511, which was preparing to take off for Da Nang from Incheon International Airport.
The fire is believed to have started in a bag stored under a passenger's seat. The bag was found to contain a power bank kept in a pouch.
The crew immediately moved to put out the fire, while fire engines were dispatched to assess the firefighting efforts and check the passengers' health.
There were 221 passengers and seven crew members aboard at the time. Some passengers complained of respiratory problems, but no one was reportedly taken to a hospital.
Air Seoul had all the passengers deplane and replaced the aircraft for a safety inspection. As a result, the flight departed about two hours and 50 minutes later than scheduled. The replacement aircraft carried 219 passengers, excluding two who voluntarily gave up their seats.
Air Seoul and the firefighting authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire, believing that it broke out despite the passenger having taken measures to prevent a short circuit in the power bank.
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter