South Korea Plane Crash: Runway Design Under Scrutiny
The tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 at Muan International Airport in South Korea on December 30, 2024, has claimed the lives of nearly all 181 passengers and crew. The devastating accident, the deadliest air disaster in South Korean history, is prompting intense scrutiny of the airport’s design and safety protocols.
The Boeing 737-800, which belly-landed with its flaps and landing gear retracted, collided with a mound of dirt and a concrete wall situated beyond the runway’s end. This impact, according to aviation experts, significantly hampered the aircraft’s ability to safely stop.
“Certainly that made it tough to stop the aircraft safely,” stated Todd curtis, founder of Air Safe Media and a former Boeing safety engineer. The examination, expected to last months, will examine various factors, including aircraft maintenance, pilot scheduling, and cockpit voice recorder data.
Questions Raised About Runway Barriers
While barriers beyond runways are standard practice, the seemingly unforgiving nature of the concrete wall at Muan International Airport is a key focus of the investigation. John Cox, an aviation safety consultant and Boeing 737 pilot, analyzed video footage of the landing. He observed, “you see the airplane skidding along, it is slowing down… everything is going pretty well up until where they hit” the wall. He suspects “blunt force trauma of hitting the wall” caused the majority of fatalities.
In contrast to Muan’s seemingly rigid barrier, many U.S. airports utilize Engineered Material Arresting Systems (EMAS), a crushable material designed to slow down overrunning aircraft.The 2016 incident involving then-Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence’s plane at LaGuardia Airport, successfully stopped by EMAS, highlights the potential benefits of such systems.
Early reports suggest a possible bird strike may have contributed to engine failure, but investigators emphasize the investigation is in its preliminary stages. The incident underscores the critical need for thorough investigation and a thorough review of airport safety standards globally.
