By: George Clinton Prajogo
South Korea’s authorities announced on Wednesday plans to implement significant changes to the concrete barriers at several airports across the country, following the tragic crash of a “Jeju Air” flight that claimed the lives of 179 people in late December 2024 in the city of Muan, located in the southwest of the country.
On December 29, a Boeing 737, operated by the low-cost airline Jeju Air, was arriving from Bangkok when it landed at Muan Airport without its landing gear. The aircraft then slid along the runway before crashing into a concrete barrier, erupting into flames. The crash resulted in the death of everyone aboard Flight 2216, except for two crew members, marking South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster. https://abcnews.go.com/US/179-victims-died-jeju-air-plane-crash-identified/story?id=117242487
Attention has been drawn to the potential causes of the accident, particularly the unusual presence of a concrete structure at the end of the runway, which was equipped with a device for guiding aircraft during landing. The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport issued a statement confirming that a safety review of the country’s airports identified the need for modifications at seven airports, including those in Muan and Jeju Island. Plans include replacing the concrete barriers with lighter steel structures to improve safety.
Further investigation into the incident revealed the presence of bird feathers in both engines of the doomed aircraft. The possibility of a bird strike had been suggested as a contributing factor to the crash, as the Muan Airport control tower had warned the flight crew of potential bird activity three minutes before the crash. Additionally, the aircraft’s captain issued a distress call prior to the emergency landing attempt.
However, investigators are facing challenges, as the aircraft’s black boxes ceased recording flight data four minutes before the crash, hindering the investigation. In the wake of the tragedy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that the closure of Muan Airport would be extended for an additional three months, with reopening now scheduled for April 18.
As South Korea grapples with the aftermath of this devastating incident, the planned changes to airport infrastructure aim to enhance aviation safety and prevent future disasters.