Smoke and sparks emerged from a passenger's portable battery aboard a T'way Air jet bound for Boracay in the Philippines after departing from Incheon International Airport. Quick action by the cabin crew brought the situation under control early, and there were no casualties.
According to the aviation industry and T'way Air on the 21st, smoke rose from a portable battery carried by a passenger shortly after takeoff on T'way Air flight TW125, which departed Incheon International Airport at around 8:50 a.m. the previous day. There were 172 passengers on board the aircraft at the time.
The cabin crew immediately discharged a fire extinguisher to conduct an initial suppression and placed the affected portable battery into a water-filled container to prevent further ignition. As smoke spread through the cabin, they instructed passengers to cover their noses and mouths with water-soaked tissues.
Videos posted on social media (SNS) showed passengers moving away from the smoke or covering their noses and mouths. One clip captured a cabin crew member instructing, "Please stay in your seats," as passengers near the affected seat rose in alarm and tried to leave.
The aircraft arrived at Kalibo Airport in the Philippines around noon on the 20th local time as scheduled. T'way Air said both passengers and crew were in good health, and no unusual findings were detected in the aircraft inspection.
The portable battery in question was confirmed to have been carried by the passenger personally. Specific details, such as whether it was charged or used in the cabin and whether the insulating tape had been removed, have not yet been determined.
T'way Air has prohibited storing portable batteries brought into the cabin in overhead bins since February last year. Since February this year, it has restricted in-cabin charging and use, and has implemented short-circuit prevention measures requiring insulating tape or protective caps over charging terminals.
Meanwhile, in January this year, smoke also emerged from a portable battery in a passenger's bag on a T'way Air flight traveling from Sanya, China, to Cheongju. In that case as well, cabin crew resolved the situation by taking initial measures such as collecting the battery and submerging it in water.
