Jeju Air Crash Raises Concerns Over Runway Design

The crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 on Sunday morning has drawn attention to the safety design of Muan International Airport’s runway, where a mound of dirt and a concrete wall were positioned beyond its end. The Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers, belly-landed without landing gear or flaps, skidded down the runway, and struck the wall, resulting in a fire that left only two survivors.

Experts, including Todd Curtis of Air Safe Media, questioned the placement of the wall and its role in the high fatality rate. “Certainly that made it difficult to stop the aircraft safely,” Curtis said, adding that crash investigators face a lengthy probe into maintenance records, pilot scheduling, and cockpit voice recordings. Initial evidence points to a potential bird strike causing engine loss, but the investigation remains in its early stages.

John Cox, an aviation safety consultant and experienced Boeing 737 pilot, noted that video footage shows the plane slowing down successfully before hitting the wall. He suspects “blunt force trauma” from the collision caused most of the fatalities.

Runway barriers, such as engineered material arresting systems (EMAS), are common at airports like New York’s LaGuardia, where they prevent overruns from ending in disaster. In contrast, the barrier at Muan International Airport appears to lack frangibility, meaning it did not break apart to minimize impact forces. This design flaw will likely become a focal point of the investigation.

The incident, South Korea’s worst air disaster and the deadliest in years, has ignited discussions about improving runway safety standards to prevent future tragedies.