South Korea auditor finds cost-cutting, faulty approvals at Jeju Air crash site

(Reuters)

SEOUL, March 11- South Korea’s transport ministry cut construction costs and approved improper airport safety structures for more than two decades, the state auditor said in a report on ​aviation safety management after a Jeju Air crash that killed 179 people.

The ‌December 2024 crash involved a Boeing 737-800 which was struck by birds, belly-landed and overran the runway at Muan International Airport, killing almost everyone on board after it struck a concrete support for a ​localiser antenna. The only survivors were two flight attendants at the rear of ​the plane.

The Board of Audit and Inspection said in a report published ⁠on Tuesday that the ministry built a 2.4 metre (7.9 ft) high concrete embankment upon ​which to place the localiser – a landing guidance system – at Muan airport in order to ​reduce earthwork costs, without adequately reviewing relevant rules.

Under international standards, localiser structures should be designed to break apart easily upon aircraft impact.

The ministry is responsible for airport construction. It hands operations to Korea Airports ​Corp (KAC) (ICNP.UL) but remains responsible for safety certification.

The auditor said the ministry wrongly approved 14 ​non-compliant localiser installations at eight airports including Muan, Gimhae and Jeju. It also said that, for up ‌to ⁠22 years, the ministry certified operating permits and approved regular inspections that erroneously found frangibility standards had been met.