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.
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.
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.
I think it was the approach they took. Has they flown along the wall, everything would have been just fine.
They’re using it wrong.
You don’t see skaters ramming their boards onto walls at full speed… Nah, they slide along the wall on the top. See? That’s what they got wrong. Or Maybe add a little ramp so the planes can “take off”… You know what I mean? A little “wake me up” ramp. In case the pilots forgot to pull up, the ramp will do that for them.
It probably had those little metal outsets to prevent sliding.
Shit! You know, the guy who invented those things went to my university. Well, it’s not my university, I mean I went to the same university he did. He’s going to hell for that invention. I’m sure of it. He just wanted to punish skaters by removing their teeth. But he created the perfect airplane recycling crusher instead.
They flew down the runway…
What about a big ass garage door? Like if you know you’ll be overshooting the runway, just press the button and it will open excruciatingly slowly. You still get the great American movie special effects, cuz the wings won’t fit in time. But you save everyone with only small bruises and concussions. Like for me, I rather have a concussion and have my entire family realize what a piece of shit flying really is, than you know, nothing. Nothing is easy, but then its nothing so that’s the end unless you gotta friend who wants to sue. But maybe the easiest way would be to not build a wall at the end of a runway? Imagine every take off… We’re not gonna make it! Steady! Captain! We need more power! I’m giving it all she’s got! Punch it! Goddam! I said punch it!..by god we made it Franky! We made it! Set a course for Ohio!
Paywall
ಠ︵ಠno, concrete wall.
