South Korean air disaster casts scrutiny on concrete runway embankment

Jeju Air Flight 2216 exploded into flames after slamming into a concrete structure at the end of the runway.

Taipei, Taiwan – As the investigation into the deadly crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 stretches into its third day, aviation experts are raising questions about what role a concrete structure at the end of the runway at South Korea’s Muan International Airport may have played in the accident, among other factors.

The Boeing 737-800 slammed into a concrete structure and burst into flames after being forced to make an emergency landing on Sunday morning, killing 179 of 181 people on board in the deadliest-ever plane crash on South Korean soil.

The pilot had reported a bird strike to air traffic control moments before the aircraft belly-flopped on the runway after failing to deploy its landing gear and overshooting the landing zone.

South Korean authorities have said that the concrete structure, which housed a localiser antenna to help pilots maintain the correct approach path, had been built according to regulations and was similar to other structures at airports around the world.

However, some aviation experts have questioned the choice and placement of the structure, suggesting that the disaster may have been avoidable with better airport design.