"Emergency situation. White smoke is currently rising from row 27."
On November 5, at the fire suppression training facility of the Yuhan University-Parata Airlines Aviation Training Center, smoke was seen billowing from an overhead bin above an aircraft seat. Four flight attendants quickly formed a team to identify the source of the smoke and acted swiftly. One attendant urgently retrieved fire suppression equipment and handed it to a colleague stationed at the ignition point. Another attendant communicated the fire's location and suppression status to the captain via a phone connected to the cockpit.
The cause of the fire was determined to be thermal runaway from a passenger's portable battery. After extinguishing the flames with the fire suppression equipment, the crew placed the battery into a specially designed fire containment bag (FCB) to cool it down.
In response to growing concerns about in-flight fires related to portable batteries, Parata Airlines has been conducting on-site response training, focusing on lead flight attendants. Quick initial suppression is crucial, as lithium inside the batteries can reignite due to residual heat even after the flames are extinguished.
Choo Sang-yoon, an instructor at the Parata Airlines Aviation Training Center, stated, "We are training attendants to regularly monitor the cabin and check passengers' use of electronic devices. The goal is for the attendant who spots smoke to assign tasks to other crew members and suppress the fire before it spreads."
Subsequent training simulated a scenario where a fire suddenly ignited from a passenger seat. The crew confirmed the fire's location and used fire suppression equipment to extinguish the flames. Parata Airlines is conducting training exercises that simulate fire outbreaks in high-risk areas, such as cooking ovens or restrooms.
Established in March 2026 on the Yuhan University campus, the Parata Airlines Aviation Training Center focuses on replicating the actual working environment of cabin crew. The training emphasizes practical exercises that simulate real fire situations, moving beyond theoretical and procedural education. Since resuming operations in September 2022, the airline has strengthened its practice-oriented safety training in line with its expanded routes.
Flight attendants receive training in a simulated aircraft cabin environment, enhancing their ability to respond to emergencies, including assisting passengers with evacuations via emergency slides.
A representative from Parata Airlines emphasized, "No matter how diligently the airline and crew respond, passenger cooperation is essential. In-flight safety cannot be maintained solely by the airline's efforts; passengers must also adhere to safety protocols and actively cooperate with crew instructions during emergencies."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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