The wreckage of a Jeju Air plane has sparked a thorough investigation at Muan International Airport following the devastating crash that claimed 179 lives.
Aviation experts are scrutinizing a concrete wall situated unusually close to the runway, questioning its potential role in South Korea’s deadliest plane crash. Eyewitness footage captures the moment the Jeju Air aircraft veered off the runway, colliding with the wall before erupting into flames.
Investigators are focusing on the wall’s placement, approximately 250 meters (820 feet) past the runway’s end, and how its presence may have influenced the tragic outcome. Air safety specialist David Learmount stated that without the obstruction, most, if not all, passengers could have survived.
The pilot reported a bird strike during the initial landing attempt but proceeded to request a landing approach from the opposite direction. The plane landed further down the 2,800-meter runway, appearing to hit the ground without its wheels or landing gear.
Mr. Learmount described the landing as effective under the circumstances, indicating that the aircraft slid along the runway without significant damage. However, he emphasized that the collision with the solid obstruction just past the runway’s edge was responsible for the high fatality rate.
Christian Beckert, an experienced Lufthansa pilot, expressed concerns over the concrete structure, noting that it is atypical for walls to be present at the end of a runway. This structure houses a navigation aid, known as a localiser, and was raised to maintain its level with the runway.
The South Korean transport ministry indicated that similar installations exist at other airports, yet an evaluation of the material used for the structure will be conducted to determine if alternatives could have been constructed to minimize risk in accidental impacts.
Veteran pilot Chris Kingswood remarked that obstructions near runways are expected to be designed to be frangible, meaning they should break upon impact to prevent catastrophic outcomes. He raised further inquiries regarding the decision-making that led to the plane landing away from its typical approach.
Sally Gethin, an aviation analyst, highlighted the need for clarification on the pilots’ awareness of the wall’s existence, especially as they were directed to land from an atypical angle. The investigation aims to uncover critical details that could lead to improved safety measures in the future.
