Post by : Shakul

A government audit in South Korea has revealed serious safety failures behind the deadly crash involving Jeju Air that killed 179 people in December 2024. The report, released on March 11, 2026, found that the country’s transport ministry approved unsafe airport structures and cut construction costs over the past two decades, contributing to the tragedy.

The crash involved a Boeing 737-800 that attempted an emergency belly landing after a suspected bird strike at Muan International Airport. The aircraft overshot the runway and slammed into a concrete embankment supporting a navigation system, resulting in the deaths of almost everyone on board. Only two cabin crew members survived the disaster.

The audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection found that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had approved non-compliant localiser structures at several airports, including Muan, Gimhae and Jeju. According to international aviation standards, these structures should be designed to break apart when struck by an aircraft, but the ministry reportedly allowed a solid 2.4-metre concrete embankment to be installed to reduce construction costs.

Auditors also discovered broader failures in aviation safety management, including weaknesses in bird-strike prevention systems and inspection processes. The watchdog identified around 30 cases of wrongdoing or procedural failures and urged authorities to strengthen safety rules and redesign airport infrastructure to prevent similar disasters in the future.

#world news #Global News