South Korea to Remove Wall After Airplane Crash

south korea - South Korea Transport Ministry announces removal of concrete wall at the end of the runway where 179 people lost their lives in a plane crash.

South Korea to Remove Concrete Wall

South Korea's Transport Ministry announced that the concrete wall at the end of the runway, which led to the deaths of 179 people in a plane crash, will be removed. The wall contained fragile structures housing the localizer antennas that the Boeing 737-800 aircraft of Jeju Air hit at high speed after landing on the fuselage.

The Muan International Airport will completely remove the existing concrete wall and plans to rebuild the localizer on a more fragile structure.

The fatal crash occurred on December 29 as the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, was unable to stop during landing at Muan International Airport and crashed into the wall at the end of the runway. Only 2 cabin crew members survived with injuries out of 179 passengers who lost their lives. The Transport Ministry mentioned that the pilot requested emergency landing permission after the tower's bird strike warning and landed on the fuselage with the landing gear retracted. An investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash has been initiated.

The airplane involved in the crash had completed 13 flights in the 48 hours prior to the incident. Jeju Air announced suspension of a total of 1,878 flights in the first quarter of the year to enhance operational safety following the tragedy.

The concrete wall at the end of the runway, which was said to have worsened the outcome of the crash, had sparked criticism.