South Korea is set to completely overhaul its aviation safety framework, as announced by the transport ministry on Tuesday. This initiative includes the establishment of a new committee aimed at enhancing air travel safety in the wake of two significant aviation incidents occurring within a month.
To restore confidence in the nation’s aviation safety protocols, Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Baek Won-kuk emphasized the government’s commitment to rebuilding the system from the ground up, according to the ministry’s statement.
He further stated that aviation safety must be treated as a paramount concern.
The most catastrophic air disaster in South Korean history occurred on December 29, when a Jeju Air flight crashed at Muan airport, resulting in the deaths of all but two of the 181 individuals on board. Preliminary investigations revealed that duck remains were discovered in both engines, suggesting that bird strikes contributed to the incident. Experts note that air accidents typically arise from a combination of factors.
Additionally, last week, an Air Busan aircraft caught fire at Busan’s international airport while preparing for departure, although all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. The fire was initially detected by a flight attendant in an overhead luggage compartment at the rear of the aircraft, as reported by Air Busan.
Investigations into the causes of both incidents are currently underway.
The newly formed committee, which will operate for ten weeks, will comprise private sector specialists and will address various issues, including maintenance practices and aircraft utilization rates among budget airlines, as well as airport construction and operations.
In response to the Jeju Air crash, which involved the aircraft belly landing and subsequently colliding with a concrete embankment supporting navigation equipment beyond the runway’s end, authorities have announced plans to modify similar structures at seven airports nationwide.
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