7 months ago
Jeju Air Crash Deaths Could Have Been Avoided Without Concrete Barrier
A plane from Jeju Air crashed in South Korea in December 2024.
The plane slid off the runway and hit a big concrete block, which caused many people to die.
A report says that if the concrete block wasn't there, everyone might have been okay.
The families of the people who died are very upset and want the government to take responsibility.
The airport is still closed, and the full report about the crash is not finished yet.
The families say the government knew the block was dangerous but didn't fix it.
A government-commissioned report suggests the Jeju Air crash in December 2024 might not have been deadly without a concrete barrier at the runway's end.
The simulation found the plane's initial impact was not severe enough to cause fatalities, and it could have slid 770 meters without the barrier.
The concrete structure did not meet international safety standards and was flagged as unsafe since 1999.
Families of the victims and opposition politicians are demanding accountability, accusing authorities of delaying the report and failing to address infrastructure design flaws.
The full investigative report is pending, and Muan airport remains closed until April.
- Who
- Passengers and crew of Jeju Air flight from Bangkok to Muan International Airport
- What
- Plane crash due to runway overrun and impact with a concrete barrier
- Where
- Muan International Airport, South Korea
- When
- December 2024
- Why
- Concrete barrier at the end of the runway, which did not meet international safety standards, contributed to the high death toll
Key facts
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-800
- Origin
- Bangkok
- Destination
- Muan International Airport
- Date
- December 2024
- Fatalities
- 179
- Survivors
- 2 flight attendants
- Barrier Type
- Concrete support for localiser antenna
- Simulation Findings
- Plane could have slid 770m without barrier
Quotes
Kim Eun-hye
Member of a bipartisan parliamentary special committee on the accident
“The simulation by a South Korean structural engineering institute found the aircraft's initial impact as it hit the runway was not strong enough to cause severe injuries and the plane would have slid about 770 m (2,526 ft) before stopping if the barrier was not there.”
NDTV
“It also concluded that if the navigation facility had been supported by a breakable structure, instead of a concrete mound, the aircraft could have breached a fence with only minor injuries.”
NDTV
A representative of the victims' family association
Representative of the victims' family association
“The report was 'solid proof that the disaster was man-made' and said the families were demanding an apology from the investigation board for concealing the information.”
NDTV
