4 hours ago
10
January 23, 2025 | 06:27 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Korea will tear down concrete walls at several airports, including Muan International Airport, after the Jeju Air plane crash in December. The country will also replace barriers at nine other airports.
The Jeju Air 7C2216 crash, South Korea’s deadliest, is still under investigation. In addition to reports of bird strikes, experts say a large embankment supporting a navigation antenna at the end of the runway likely made the disaster more deadly than it needed to be.
The Dec. 29 crash killed a total of 179 people, with only two crew members sitting near the rear of the Boeing 737-800 surviving. Video footage showed the passenger jet, flying from Bangkok, Thailand, hitting the structure and exploding after landing at high speed without lowering its landing gear and skidding past the end of the runway.
Runway Design Criticized
The runway design has also been criticized for not meeting safety standards, prompting authorities to expand the post-runway safety zone, which is free of major obstacles.
In one of the announcements since the crash, authorities said they would make new foundations or other adjustments for similar antennas at seven airports including Muan and Jeju International Airport, one of South Korea’s busiest, that are below ground level or fragile.
The decision was made after reviewing the structures that house landing guidance antennas at airports across Korea known as Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), or “localisers.”
“Muan International Airport plans to completely remove the existing concrete and reinstall the localisers in fragile structures,” the ministry said in a statement, as reported by Reuters.
The transport ministry said it would ensure the 240-meter (800-foot) runways at all airports meet all relevant regulations. The area at Muan airport was about 200 meters (660 feet) long before the crash.
Police said separately that Son Chang-wan, a former president of the state-run Korea Airports Corporation who was in office when the structure at Muan airport was renovated, was found dead at his home on Tuesday in an apparent suicide.
Son was not under investigation for the plane crash and has not been called in for questioning, a police official said.
The closure of Muan airport has been extended until April 18, the transport ministry said on Saturday.
REUTERS | INDEPENDENT
Editor's Choice: Jeju Air Black Box Data Missing from Crucial Minutes Before Crash, South Korea Ministry Says
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
'Cute and Murderous': How Squid Game's Iconic Killer Doll Came to Life
13 jam lalu
The third and final season of Squid Game is set to be released later this year.
South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol Defends Action at Impeachment Hearing
1 hari lalu
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, a Constitutional Court hearing of his impeachment trial.
Protesters Storm South Korean Court After Yoon Suk Yeol's Detention Extension
3 hari lalu
Hundreds of supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stormed a courthouse on Sunday morning after his detention was extended.
Shin Tae-yong Plans to Visit Indonesia Frequently
5 hari lalu
Shin Tae-yong said he would visit Indonesia often despite being sacked as Indonesia's national team coach by PSSI.
Detained South Korea's Yoon Refuses Questioning and Challenges Arrest
6 hari lalu
Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested and was held at the Seoul Detention Centre after refusing to cooperate.
Yoon Suk Yeol Claims Declaring Martial Law is Not a Crime
7 hari lalu
South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol claimed on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, that declaring martial law was not a crime.
South Korean Investigators Question Arrested President Yoon in Insurrection Probe
7 hari lalu
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested and questioned by authorities in relation to a criminal insurrection investigation.
Passenger Brings Hundreds of iPhones to Jakarta via Hang Nadim Airport Batam
7 hari lalu
A plane passenger at Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam City dared to smuggle hundreds of iPhone units into Jakarta.
South Korean Investigators Arrest Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol
7 hari lalu
South Korean authorities arrested impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, over insurrection allegations.
Megawati Hangestri Scores 44 Points for Red Sparks, Moves Up to 2nd Place on South Korea's V-League Top Scorers List
7 hari lalu
Megawati Hangestri, a female volleyball athlete from Indonesia who plays for the Red Sparks team, scored 44 points when her team silenced Altos IBK.
