South Korea to Overhaul Airport Safety After Deadly Jeju Air Crash

The December crash at Muan International Airport killed 179, prompting safety reforms and investigations into multiple contributing factors.

The South Korean government will remove concrete barriers at Muan International Airport and six other airports, replacing them with breakable structures to meet international safety guidelines.
The crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 on December 29, 2024, resulted in 179 fatalities and was South Korea's deadliest aviation disaster to date.
Investigators are examining multiple factors, including the reinforced concrete structure, a potential bird strike, and the failure of the plane's landing gear.
Muan International Airport, currently closed until April 18, will extend its runway safety zone to 240 meters as part of broader safety reforms.
Son Chang-wan, a former Korea Airports Corporation president involved in Muan's 2020 renovations, was found dead in an apparent suicide, though he was not under investigation for the crash.