Following the tragic plane crash on December 29, 2024, which claimed 179 lives, Muan International Airport in South Korea remains closed. The South Korean Ministry of Transport extended the closure of the airport in the southwest of the country until January 14 to conduct comprehensive investigations and necessary safety measures.
The accident occurred when a Boeing 737-800 belonging to the low-cost airline Jeju Air from Thailand rolled off the runway without its landing gear extended, hit a wall and caught fire. Of the 181 people on board, only two crew members survived.
The exact cause of the accident remains unclear. Initial investigations indicate that a bird strike may have damaged the plane. Regardless of this, criticism of the airport's infrastructure was voiced. Experts criticized the placement of the wall at the end of the runway, which did not meet international safety standards.
The extension of the closure is not only intended to investigate the incident, but also to enable the implementation of possible changes to the airport site.
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