By Youssef Yahya 
The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has announced plans to remove the concrete localizer structures at Muan International Airport (MWX), following the tragic crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800. The accident occurred on December 29, 2024, when the flight from Bangkok made an emergency landing, striking the embankment that housed the airport’s localizer landing aid antenna.
Ministry Statement on Localizer Reconstruction
In a statement released on January 21, 2025, the ministry emphasized the need for improved safety measures. According to Reuters, the ministry confirmed that,
“Muan International Airport plans to completely remove the existing concrete and reinstall the localizer in a fragile structure.”
Hazardous Structures Identified at Seven Airports
The Yonhap News Agency reported that similar hazardous structures exist at nine locations across seven South Korean airports. Inspections revealed concrete structures supporting localizer installations at Gwangju Airport (KWJ), Yeosu Airport (RSU), and Pohang Gyeongju Airport (KPO). Additionally, Gimhae International Airport (PUS), which serves Busan, and Sacheon Airport (HIN) were found to have concrete foundations protruding above ground level.
Runway Safety Enhancements
The government also announced plans to address runway safety concerns. Seven airports with runway safety areas shorter than the recommended 240 meters will have their safety zones extended. In cases where physical expansion is not feasible, engineered material arresting systems (EMAS) may be installed to enhance safety.
Details of the Jeju Air Crash
The Jeju Air crash in December 2024 resulted in the loss of 179 out of 181 lives on board, leaving only two flight attendants as survivors. South Korean authorities have since revealed that investigators found bird feathers and blood in both engines of the aircraft, highlighting the potential role of bird strikes in the fatal accident.
Jeju Air Crash Investigations: What do we know so far?
Following the fatal Jeju Air crash on December 29th, police raided Muan International Airport (MWX), the Jeju Air office in Seoul, and the Muan office of the Busan Regional Office of Aviation. The raids, conducted on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025, are part of an ongoing investigation into the fatal crash that claimed 179 lives.
Just days after the crash, a team of investigators from the U.S. government and Boeing arrived at the site to assist with the probe. Their expertise is critical, given the technical complexity of the case and the aircraft model involved.
A couple of days later, and according to reports from Reuters, investigators have uncovered that the black boxes; both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) on Jeju Air (7C) Flight 7C2216 ceased recording approximately four minutes before the aircraft’s fatal crash at South Korea’s Muan International Airport (MWX) on December 29, 2024.
Then with the latest development, On January 16th, South Korean authorities confirmed bird strikes as the probable cause of the tragic crash of Jeju Air on December 29, 2024, which claimed 179 lives. The investigation has uncovered bird feathers and blood in both engines of the ill-fated plane, shedding light on the accident that occurred during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport.
Korean investigators revealed that feathers were recovered from one of the engines at the crash site. The Korea Aviation Accident Investigation Board (KAIB) later confirmed that feathers were also found in the other engine. According to the National Biological Resources Agency (NBRA), a total of 17 samples, including feathers and blood stains, were analyzed, solidifying evidence of a bird strike.
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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