Aviation professionals have raised critical concerns regarding a concrete wall positioned near the runway at Muan International Airport, as investigations reveal it may have significantly contributed to the fatal crash of a Jeju Air flight.**
Questions Arise Over Concrete Wall's Role in South Korea Plane Crash**
Questions Arise Over Concrete Wall's Role in South Korea Plane Crash**
Investigations continue into the South Korea plane crash that claimed 179 lives, with experts scrutinizing an unusual wall near the runway.**
In the aftermath of South Korea's deadliest plane crash, which resulted in the loss of 179 lives, aviation experts are scrutinizing a notable concrete wall located near the runway at Muan International Airport. Footage captured the tragic moment when the Jeju Air aircraft veered off the runway and collided with the wall, igniting a catastrophic fire.
Investigators are questioning the implications of the concrete structure, which is situated approximately 250 meters (820 feet) from the runway's end. Air safety consultant David Learmount has emphasized that the presence of this "obstruction" likely prevented the plane from coming to a safer stop, potentially leading to a dramatically different outcome for those on board.
The flight crew had attempted to land after striking a bird, leading to a rejected landing and a request to approach from the opposite direction. The airplane eventually landed but did so along the runway without deploying its landing gear, according to reports. While the landing itself had been executed competently, Learmount highlighted that the wall's collision resulted in the majority of fatalities.
The concrete structure, which serves a navigation purpose known as a localiser, has drawn criticism from aviation professionals like Lufthansa pilot Christian Beckert, who noted it is atypical for airports to have such barriers past runway extensions. At a height of four meters, the wall was constructed to ensure the localiser remained level with the runway. According to reports by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, similar infrastructure exists at other airports but officials are now exploring the feasibility of using lighter, more breakable materials.
Pilot Chris Kingswood remarked that any landing course should maintain frangible structures within designated areas to minimize collision impacts. The high speed at which the aircraft was traveling and its extensive rollout down the runway have led to further investigation regarding airport safety compliance.
The circumstances surrounding a bird strike are under examination as potential contributors to the crash alongside the wall's impact. Questions regarding the pilots’ awareness of the wall and the possibility of directional changes prompted by the control tower remain pivotal to ongoing investigations of black box data.
Overall, aviation analysts continue to raise concerns, as the scrutiny over the crash highlights potential hazards that may exist at airports globally.
Investigators are questioning the implications of the concrete structure, which is situated approximately 250 meters (820 feet) from the runway's end. Air safety consultant David Learmount has emphasized that the presence of this "obstruction" likely prevented the plane from coming to a safer stop, potentially leading to a dramatically different outcome for those on board.
The flight crew had attempted to land after striking a bird, leading to a rejected landing and a request to approach from the opposite direction. The airplane eventually landed but did so along the runway without deploying its landing gear, according to reports. While the landing itself had been executed competently, Learmount highlighted that the wall's collision resulted in the majority of fatalities.
The concrete structure, which serves a navigation purpose known as a localiser, has drawn criticism from aviation professionals like Lufthansa pilot Christian Beckert, who noted it is atypical for airports to have such barriers past runway extensions. At a height of four meters, the wall was constructed to ensure the localiser remained level with the runway. According to reports by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, similar infrastructure exists at other airports but officials are now exploring the feasibility of using lighter, more breakable materials.
Pilot Chris Kingswood remarked that any landing course should maintain frangible structures within designated areas to minimize collision impacts. The high speed at which the aircraft was traveling and its extensive rollout down the runway have led to further investigation regarding airport safety compliance.
The circumstances surrounding a bird strike are under examination as potential contributors to the crash alongside the wall's impact. Questions regarding the pilots’ awareness of the wall and the possibility of directional changes prompted by the control tower remain pivotal to ongoing investigations of black box data.
Overall, aviation analysts continue to raise concerns, as the scrutiny over the crash highlights potential hazards that may exist at airports globally.
