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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] A government audit has found that a concrete embankment structure linked to the Dec. 29, 2024 Jeju Air disaster at Muan International Airport was installed without sufficient review as part of a cost-cutting construction decision.
The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) said March 10 that the structure was built while reinforcing a localizer system, a navigation facility that helps aircraft align with the runway during landing. Because the equipment was installed on a slope steeper than recommended, additional reinforcement was added to prevent it from breaking in strong winds, resulting in the installation of a large concrete structure that later became a major safety hazard.
The findings were part of a broader audit conducted between May and July last year covering 15 airports, 11 airlines and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The watchdog reported 30 cases of violations or improper practices, including three disciplinary actions, across areas such as navigation safety facilities, aircraft maintenance, personnel management and bird-strike response.
Similar rigid localizer structures were also found at seven other airports, including Gimhae and Yeosu, while the transport ministry had incorrectly approved inspection results for up to 22 years, stating the facilities were designed to break away safely.
The audit also revealed significant shortcomings in pilot training and management. Over the past five years, eight Korean airlines, including Korean Air, failed to conduct training for belly landing emergencies, with the average completion rate for four emergency training scenarios standing at 14.4%.
In addition, 62 pilots diagnosed with severe depression continued flying after failing to disclose their medical history, operating 12,097 flights between 2022 and 2024.
The audit also uncovered poor oversight of pilot qualifications. One pilot whose aviation English certification had expired forged the document and continued operating 110 international flights after December 2024, the BAI said.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
