Domestic Airliner Nearly Collides with Runway in Gimpo Airport, Seoul

It has been confirmed that a domestic airliner nearly collided with the runway of Gimpo Airport in Gangseo District, Seoul, and an accident that could have resulted in casualties if one mistake was made.

According to related organizations and the industry on the 20th, a Korean Air (KE1118) passenger plane that took off from Jeju Airport and landed at Gimpo Airport around 8:00 am on the 19th of the previous day went off the taxiway and invaded the runway. There has occurred. At the same time, an Air Busan (BX8027) airliner was in the process of taking off on the runway. Under these circumstances, it was confirmed that the Air Busan passenger plane lifted its nose and narrowly avoided a rear-end collision with the Korean Air passenger plane.

If there was even a slight delay in the takeoff of Air Busan passengers, it could have led to a large-scale accident in which the two planes collided. Korean Air KE1118 is a Boeing 737-900 aircraft with a capacity of about 200 passengers. Air Busan BX8027 is an Airbus A321-200 with a capacity of 195 seats.

In order to maximize the engine output during the takeoff process, it is strictly forbidden to enter and exit the runway except for takeoff aircraft. “There is no doubt that it was a dangerous situation,” said an airline industry official who requested anonymity. The taxiways and runways of Gimpo Airport are under the jurisdiction of the Seoul Regional Airport Administration under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. This means that the land ministry cannot avoid responsibility if there is a problem with air traffic control. An official from the Seoul Regional Airport Authority said, “We are investigating related incidents,” adding, “We understand that we gave instructions not to intrude on the runway, but they did not do so.”

In response to this, Korean Air said, “The fuselage of our aircraft did not intrude on the runway where the Air Busan aircraft took off. ” he claimed. “However, we have confirmed that there was a communication problem between the flight crew and the airport controller, and we plan to conduct a thorough investigation into this,” it added.