Aviation authorities in South Korea have reported that seven out of 14 South Korean airports inspected to date have been found to have installed concrete structures similar to those involved in the recent fatal landing accident involving a Jeju Air Boeing 737,800, according to a preliminary inspection report released on January 13, 2024.

On December 29, 2024, the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok made an emergency landing at Muan International Airport (MWX) without its landing gear extended which resulted in a high-speed touchdown. However, the aircraft struck a concrete mound housing the localizer landing aid antenna at the end of the runway and became engulfed in a post-impact fire. The accident claimed 179 of the 181 lives onboard with two flight attendants surviving.

The recently conducted South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport review of landing aid installation structures at the country’s airports revealed that nine facilities at seven airports have localizer housings that would be unbreakable upon an impact with an aircraft and therefore require urgent improvements, according to The Korea Herald.

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