Reuters' SEOUL The transport ministry of South Korea
announced on Wednesday that it would demolish the concrete embankment that was
put in place at Muan International Airport in the wake of the country's
deadliest domestic aviation accident, the Jeju Air tragedy, which occurred last
month.
Experts have stated that the enormous mound that supported navigation antennas
at the end of the runway probably made the accident more fatal than it may have
been otherwise, even though authorities are still looking into what caused Jeju
Air aircraft 7C2216 to crash, including suspected bird strikes.
Authorities said they will install new foundations or make other modifications
for similar antennas at seven airports, including Muan and Jeju International
Airport, one of the busiest in South Korea, that are below ground level or
easily broken. This is one of the first extensive reforms announced since the
crash.
After examining the buildings that house the Instrument Landing Systems (ILS)
or "localizer" antennas that direct landings at airports around the
nation, the decision was made.
In a statement, the government stated that "Muan International Airport
intends to completely remove the existing concrete and reinstall the localizer
in a fragile structure."
Only two crew members who were seated close to the back of the Boeing (NYSE:BA)
737-800 survived the Dec. 29 disaster, which claimed 179 lives.
After landing at high speed without gear down and drifting past the end of the
runway, the passenger jet was captured on camera crashing into the building and
exploding.
Authorities have extended post-runway safety zones free of significant
obstructions in response to criticism that the runway design does not adhere to
safety regulations.
According to the transport ministry, all airports will have a runway safety
area that is 240 meters (787 feet) long and complies with all applicable laws.
Before the crash, the area at Muan Airport was roughly 200 meters long.
Son Chang-wan, the former president of the state-run Korea Airports
Corporation, who was in office when the Muan airport facility was
reconstructed, was discovered dead at his house on Tuesday after allegedly
committing himself, according to independent police statements.
According to a police spokesman, Son was not being investigated for the jet
crash and had not been called in for interrogation.
The transport ministry said on Saturday that the closure of Muan airport would
be prolonged until April 18.
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