The plane crash of a Boeing 737 operated by Jeju Air in South Korea, which resulted in the deaths of 179 people, occurred due to a concrete barrier located just behind the runway, which should not have been there at the airport. This opinion was expressed by British aviation safety expert David Lermont.
"I am shocked by what happened because in this case, the cause of the loss of life was not that the pilot failed to deploy the flaps and landing gear. Passengers died due to the aircraft's collision with a rigid structure beyond the runway where it shouldn't have been," Lermont explained.
The structure on a concrete base, topped with radio beacons, was used for directing aircraft during nighttime or adverse weather conditions. It was situated just 250 meters from the end of the runway.
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- Jeju Air plane crashes in South Korea, 179 people dead
According to the expert, such devices are typically installed directly on the ground. The deaths of the Boeing crew and passengers could have been avoided, believes Lermont.
"The pilot needed to land the plane very quickly. That’s why he went over the edge of the runway. And precisely because aircraft sometimes go past the end of the runway, such rigid structures are not placed immediately behind it," the expert emphasized.
The South Korean authorities stated they would evaluate the role of the "rigid structure" in the plane crash. It has been reported that radio navigation systems on concrete bases have also been found in other South Korean airports.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, ordered a thorough review of the aviation safety system across the country.