Role of concrete wall near runway questioned in South Korea plane crash
Role of concrete wall near runway questioned in South Korea plane crash
Summary
Aviation analysts are investigating the deadly crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 at Muan Airport, South Korea’s worst aviation disaster, killing 179 of 181 aboard.
The plane skidded on its belly and struck a concrete barrier housing a localizer antenna, leading to a fireball explosion.
Experts highlight the rigid structure’s role, contrasting it with softer, frangible barriers designed to minimize impact in runway safety areas.
Investigators will assess compliance with international safety standards and whether the airport’s infrastructure contributed to the crash.
Preliminary findings are expected in the coming month.
The wall was absolutely the reason everyone died. I saw no RESA or EMAS in the posted video of the crash.
From the article:
The International Civil Aviation Organization recommends a standard buffer zone of about 180 to 300 meters, or 591 feet to 984 feet, from the end of the runway. At Muan airport, the concrete structure surrounded by a mound of dirt sits roughly 250 meters from the end of the runway, according to local officials.
So it's not out of the usual range for distance, but the presence of an unbreakable barrier was a problem.
For those, like me, ignorant of that jargon:
RESA
A runway safety area (RSA) or runway end safety area (RESA, if at the end of the runway) is defined as "the surface surrounding the runway prepared or suitable for reducing the risk of damage to airplanes in the event of an undershoot, overshoot, or excursion from the runway."
EMAS
An engineered materials arrestor system, engineered materials arresting system (EMAS), or arrester bed is a bed of engineered materials built at the end of a runway to reduce the severity of the consequences of an aircraft running off the end of a runway.
Paywall
ಠ︵ಠno, concrete wall.