SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea will remove a concrete structure at Muan International Airport that may have contributed to a plane crash on December 29, 2024, which resulted in the deaths of all but two of the 181 people on board. The Transport Ministry announced the decision following expert assessments suggesting that the localizer structure, designed to aid landings, exacerbated the incident.
- South Korea to remove concrete airport structure.
- Plane crash killed nearly all passengers onboard.
- Localizer may have worsened crash impact.
- New structure to use breakable materials.
- Investigators face challenges with black box data.
- Bird strike warning issued before distress signal.
The recent crash involved a Boeing 737-800 that skidded off the runway after its landing gear failed to deploy. Upon landing, the aircraft collided with the concrete localizer, resulting in a fire. Investigators noted that the black boxes stopped recording four minutes before the crash, complicating the investigation into its cause.
Experts have raised concerns that the concrete structure should have been built with lighter materials to minimize damage during an impact. The Transport Ministry’s decision to replace the localizer reflects a broader commitment to aviation safety, as they plan to evaluate similar installations at six other airports across South Korea.
- The crash occurred on December 29, 2024.
- Only two of the 181 passengers survived the incident.
- Air traffic controllers warned the pilot of potential bird strikes shortly before the crash.
In light of these events, the South Korean government is taking proactive steps to enhance safety measures at airports. The removal of the concrete structure at Muan International Airport is a significant move towards preventing future accidents and improving emergency response protocols.
The decision to remove the concrete localizer at Muan Airport highlights the need for safer designs in aviation infrastructure. This incident underscores the importance of continuous safety assessments to protect passengers and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
