Passengers aboard a Jeju Air flight at Cheongju International Airport evacuated after a portable battery caught fire inside the cabin on Saturday evening. Flight 7C227 was preparing to depart for Jeju when smoke and flames emerged from a battery being held by a seated passenger, according to multiple South Korean news reports.
- Flight
- Jeju Air 7C227
- Route
- Cheongju to Jeju
- Location
- Cheongju International Airport
- Reported evacuation
- About 168 people
The aircraft had not yet reached the runway when the fire began. A nearby passenger initially covered the burning device with clothing, and a flight attendant then placed it in a pouch designed to contain lithium battery fires. The response extinguished the flames, but smoke inside the cabin prompted the evacuation of everyone aboard.
A rapid response inside the cabin
Most reports put the total number of people evacuated at 168, while some accounts reported 167 passengers. The available reports do not explain whether the difference reflects the inclusion of crew members or a revision to the passenger count. The aircraft remained at Cheongju while the airline assessed whether it could operate safely, with one report saying it had not departed as of 9:40 p.m.
Accounts also differed on whether anyone was hurt. Several broadcasters reported no injuries, while another report said the passenger holding the battery sustained a minor burn to the hand. No serious injuries were reported in the available coverage, and the fire was contained before it could spread through the cabin.
The incident highlights the immediate hazard posed when a lithium battery overheats in the confined space of an aircraft. A failing cell can produce intense heat, smoke and flames, requiring a rapid response even when the aircraft is still on the ground. In this case, the cabin crew used dedicated containment equipment after another passenger intervened.
Questions remain after the evacuation
Because the fire occurred before departure, passengers were able to leave the aircraft at the airport rather than face an emergency in flight. Even so, the smoke forced a full evacuation and interrupted the scheduled journey from Cheongju to Jeju. Reports available Saturday night did not specify when the affected passengers would resume their trip or whether another aircraft would be used.
The cause of the battery failure was not immediately established in the cited reports. They identified the device as a passenger's portable battery and consistently described the fire as beginning while the passenger was holding it. No information was provided about the battery's brand, capacity, condition or whether it was charging at the time.
The crew's use of a lithium battery fire containment pouch is a central detail in the reported response. Such equipment is intended to isolate a damaged device after the initial flames are controlled, reducing the risk that heat or smoke will affect nearby passengers and cabin materials. The reports did not provide details about any damage to the aircraft interior.
Further confirmation is needed on the final passenger count, the reported minor injury and the aircraft's return to service. Investigators and the airline may also clarify what caused the battery to ignite and whether any additional inspection or operational measures followed the evacuation.