Seoul: South Korea is set to overhaul its aviation safety system following two major air incidents within a month. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Tuesday the formation of a new committee dedicated to enhancing air travel safety across the country.
“In order to restore trust in our country’s aviation safety system, the government will make a determined effort to rebuild the aviation safety system from the ground up,” Deputy Minister Baek Won-kuk will tell the committee, according to a statement from the ministry. He emphasized that aviation safety must be the government’s top priority.
The urgency for reforms follows South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster, which occurred on December 29 when a Jeju Air plane crashed at Muan Airport. The incident claimed the lives of all but two of the 181 passengers and crew members on board. Preliminary investigations revealed that duck remains were found in both engines, suggesting bird strikes contributed to the crash. Experts note that air accidents are typically caused by a combination of factors.
Just last week, another aviation emergency unfolded when an Air Busan aircraft caught fire at Busan’s international airport as it prepared for departure. Fortunately, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. Air Busan reported that the fire was first detected by a flight attendant in an overhead luggage bin near the rear of the aircraft. Investigations into both incidents remain ongoing.
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To address these concerns, the government has launched a 10-week committee comprised of private-sector experts. The panel will examine key issues such as aircraft maintenance, budget airline operational efficiency, and airport infrastructure.
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In direct response to the Jeju Air crash, authorities have announced plans to modify similar concrete embankments at seven airports nationwide. The crashed aircraft had belly-landed but then collided with a concrete embankment supporting navigation equipment beyond the runway’s end. Officials believe amending these structures could improve safety measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.
