Jeju Air Crash Victims Could Have Survived Without Concrete Barrier, Lawmaker Says

Post by : Saif

A recent government-commissioned report on the tragic Jeju Air crash in December 2024 suggests that the high death toll might have been avoided if a concrete barrier at the end of Muan Airport’s runway had not been present. Lawmakers said 179 of the 181 people on board died after the Boeing 737-800 overran the runway and struck the barrier, while only two flight attendants survived.

The plane had arrived from Bangkok and experienced bird strikes during landing, which forced it to belly-land. Simulations conducted by a South Korean structural engineering institute indicated that the initial impact on the runway was not strong enough to cause severe injuries. According to the findings, the aircraft could have slid safely for about 770 meters before stopping if the concrete mound had not been in its path.

Experts also noted that if the navigation equipment had been supported by a breakable structure instead of a solid concrete barrier, the plane could have broken through a fence with only minor injuries. The barrier, which did not meet international safety standards, had been flagged as unsafe years ago but was never corrected.

Lawmakers and families of the victims criticized authorities for years of negligence and for delaying the release of the report. The tragedy has sparked calls for full accountability, with families demanding apologies and transparency from the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board.

The investigation is ongoing, and Muan Airport remains closed until April. Officials have not yet released the full report, and South Korea’s parliament has launched its own probe to examine the crash and its aftermath. Many families and politicians believe the disaster could have been largely prevented if proper safety measures had been followed.

The report underscores the importance of rigorous airport safety standards and highlights how infrastructure design can directly impact the outcome of aviation emergencies. Authorities are under pressure to ensure such oversights are never repeated.

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