On December 31, a United States investigation team including representatives from Boeing conducted an inspection at the site of an airplane accident at the Wonju Airport in Jeollado, South Korea. Simultaneously, the South Korean government is conducting safety checks on all Boeing 737-800 airplanes operated by the country’s airlines.
In the accident that occurred on December 29, a Jeju Air aircraft, a budget airline in South Korea, made a belly landing without lowering its landing gear, overshooting the runway at the Wonju International Airport in southern South Korea, crashing into a concrete wall and catching fire. The incident resulted in the deaths of all but two of the 181 passengers and crew members on board.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the pilot received a bird strike warning from the ground control center and sent out a distress signal. However, many experts suggest that landing gear issues may have been a primary factor leading to the crash.
The South Korean government has initiated safety inspections on all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft in the country. The Ministry of Transport of South Korea stated that authorities are conducting a five-day safety check, reviewing maintenance and operational records of these airplanes.
An inspection team composed of eight American investigators, including personnel from the Federal Aviation Administration, three from the National Transportation Safety Board, and four from Boeing, conducted an on-site examination of the crash site on Tuesday. The results of their inspection have not been disclosed yet.
The CEO of Jeju Air, Kim Yipye, informed reporters on Tuesday that the company will enhance aircraft operational safety by increasing maintenance personnel and reducing flight operations by 10% to 15% before March.
Aviation expert John Hansman from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggested that the crash was most likely due to a problem with the aircraft’s hydraulic control system.
He stated that this corresponds with the situation of the landing gear and flaps not being deployed, “which may indicate a control problem, explaining the urgency to land.”
Engineering professor Najmedin Meshkati from the University of Southern California noted that the inability to extend the landing gear and flaps on the aircraft indicates issues with the electrical and hydraulic systems.
Like many experts, he questioned why there was a sturdy wall hundreds of meters past the runway’s end, as planes occasionally overshoot runways, stating, “Having such a large concrete obstacle there is very unfortunate for this aircraft.”
South Korean officials mentioned that they will investigate the concrete wall to assess if it should be made of lighter material to break more easily upon impact. The existing wall has a set of antennas used to guide safe landings for airplanes.
In the operational manual of the Wonju Airport uploaded by the Korea Airport Corporation earlier this year, it was mentioned that the wall’s proximity to the end of the runway was too close, suggesting a review of its location during planned expansion.
Transport officials stated that most South Korean airports are constructed following the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization, recommending a 240-meter safety zone at the end of runways.
The wall that tragically resulted in catastrophic consequences in this accident was about 250 meters from the end of the runway.
Kim Hong-rak, Director-General of the Korea Airport and Air Navigation Policy Bureau, stated that they will investigate if their regulations have conflicts, conducting additional reviews of airport safety standards.
Experts noted that the runway design at the Wonju Airport did not adhere to industry best practices, as any solid structures within at least 300 meters beyond the runway’s end are not permitted.
This aviation disaster is the deadliest in South Korea’s aviation history in decades. The nation is observing a seven-day mourning period, continuing until January 4. New Year celebrations across South Korea have been canceled.
The National Police Agency confirmed the identities of 174 bodies and is working diligently to expedite the identification of the remaining five bodies, allocating more personnel and rapid DNA analyzers.
Relatives of the deceased expressed that officials informed them the bodies were severely damaged, requiring time for return to families.
The Ministry of Transport mentioned that the flight data recorder, commonly known as the “black box,” recovered from the crash site is missing a crucial connector, with relevant departments reviewing how to extract the data. However, data extraction from the cockpit voice recorder has begun.
(This article has been referenced from reports by Reuters and the Associated Press.)