South Korea, once a model for air safety, has been left stunned by the deadliest plane accident in years – the recent crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216. The country had undergone significant changes to overhaul its aviation safety practices three decades ago, and it was considered one of the safest countries for flying at the time.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit conducted in 2008 found that South Korea earned one of the world’s highest scores in terms of air safety standards. However, the recent accident has raised concerns about airport safety regulations. The concrete structure at the end of Muan International Airport’s runway may have contributed to the high number of fatalities.
Experts point out that the space around a runway, known as the runway safety area, is intended to provide unobstructed space for aircraft that may overshoot or veer off during landing. However, South Korea has faced challenges in implementing these safety standards at smaller airports like Muan.
The F.A.A. recommends that runway safety areas extend 1,000 feet beyond the runway’s end and 500 feet on the sides. In contrast, the concrete barrier near the runway in question sits approximately 250 meters from the runway’s end. The incident has sparked a call for improved regulations to prevent similar accidents.
South Korea’s aviation regulator aims to apply balanced oversight across all airports but faces challenges at smaller facilities like Muan. The government hopes that the recent accident will prompt improvements in air safety, particularly regarding the role of concrete barriers near runways.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/06/business/jejuair-crash-south-korea-safety.html