On December 30, 2024, a tragic incident occurred at Muan International Airport in South Korea when Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crashed after going off the runway, resulting in the deaths of all but two of the 181 individuals on board. Experts have highlighted that the airport’s design, particularly the presence of dirt mounds and concrete walls at the runway’s end, may have contributed to the severity of the crash.
The Boeing 737-800, which had just completed a night flight, landed belly-down with its landing gear and flaps believed to be retracted. Upon hitting the dirt and wall where localizer equipment was installed, the aircraft erupted into flames. Todd Curtis, a safety expert and former Boeing engineer, noted that the runway design certainly hindered the aircraft’s ability to stop safely.
The investigation into the crash is expected to take several months, with investigators examining various factors such as aircraft maintenance and pilot schedules. Initial reports suggest that bird strikes may have played a significant role in a potential engine failure, though the investigation remains in its early stages. Aviation safety consultant John Cox suggested that had the airplane not collided with the wall, the number of fatalities could have been lower, attributing most passenger deaths to blunt force trauma from the impact.
Common safety features at airports, such as fencing and engineered materials that slow down runaway aircraft, were absent or inadequate at Muan International Airport. Medical and engineering analyses suggest that the barriers observed did not possess the necessary safety characteristics to prevent severe accidents. This aspect is likely to attract scrutiny as investigations continue, highlighting the importance of proper runway safety measures in preventing future disasters.