South Korea to Upgrade Airport Safety After Deadly Jeju Air Crash

Authorities extend Muan airport closure and announce plans to replace hazardous concrete structures at seven airports.

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed at Muan airport on December 29, killing 179 people and marking South Korea's deadliest aviation disaster.
The crash occurred when the plane struck a concrete embankment housing a navigation system, prompting scrutiny of airport infrastructure design.
South Korea's transport ministry plans to replace similar concrete structures at seven domestic airports, with upgrades targeted for completion by the end of 2025.
Investigations revealed safety violations among some domestic airlines, including failure to address aircraft defects and inspection delays for Boeing 737-800s.
Authorities have imposed a travel ban on Jeju Air's CEO and are continuing to investigate the crash, with black box data reportedly stopping four minutes before impact.