The devastating crash of Jeju Air flight 9172 in South Korea on December 31, 2024 has reignited an intense debate within the aviation community about the safety of concrete barriers positioned at the end of airport runways. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, carrying 181 passengers and crew, exploded on impact after careening off the runway during an emergency landing attempt at Muan International Airport. Tragically, only two individuals survived the fiery accident.
While initial reports suggest the plane suffered a birdstrike to one of its engines, prompting the ill-fated landing, aviation safety experts are now questioning whether the massive concrete wall the aircraft ultimately collided with played an unnecessarily deadly role in the crash’s catastrophic outcome. The localiser antenna structure, standing nearly two meters tall at the runway’s end, has come under intense scrutiny.
Concrete Controversy
“That kind of structure should not be there,” argued David Learmount, a prominent UK-based aviation safety consultant, speaking to Sky News. “Not only is there no justification, I think it’s verging on criminal to have it there.”
The placement and composition of runway barriers, meant to prevent planes from overshooting the landing strip, vary widely from airport to airport. However, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) does recommend a substantial clearway extending at least 90 meters, and preferably 240 meters, beyond the runway’s end to mitigate risks in the event of an overrun.
“Look at Sydney Airport: they’ve got localisers and they’ve got all sorts of stuff at either end of the runway, and in some cases … the runway is going into the ocean.”
– Geoffrey Thomas, Editor of 42,000 Feet
Other experts, like Geoffrey Thomas, editor of the aviation news site 42,000 Feet, suggest that necessary navigational equipment positioned near runways, such as localisers, do not typically pose major hazards in overrun scenarios – provided the aircraft touches down at the appropriate point on the landing strip.
Runway Rescue Systems
To prevent tragedies like the Jeju Air crash, some airports have installed specialized arrest spaces at the end of their runways. Using materials like loose gravel or soft concrete, these systems are designed to quickly decelerate an aircraft that overshoots the landing strip, much like runoff areas slow cars that veer off a race track.
However, retrofitting existing airports with these safety enhancements can prove challenging and costly. Dr. Ian Douglas, an aviation expert from the University of New South Wales, noted that runway designs must account for an airport’s unique geographical limitations and operational needs.
Material Matters
In the wake of the Muan crash, South Korean transportation officials are reevaluating whether the airport’s localiser antenna should have been constructed using lighter, more forgiving materials that would crumple and give way upon impact. While the structure adhered to ICAO guidelines, its rigid concrete construction atop a substantial wall at the end of the runway will likely be a focal point in the ongoing accident investigation.
“[Without the concrete barrier] it would have hit that [the localiser] and the result would have been pretty much the same. That was the final tragedy in a series of cascading errors and problems.”
– Geoffrey Thomas, Editor of 42,000 Feet
Yet some experts, like Thomas, argue that the barrier’s material composition may not have significantly altered the crash’s tragic outcome, given the aircraft’s speed and trajectory. Instead, they point to a confluence of factors, including the reported birdstrike and the plane touching down far later than intended on the runway, as the primary causes of the disaster.
A Catalyst for Change?
As investigators work to unravel the complex chain of events that culminated in this heartrending tragedy, the global aviation community will undoubtedly scrutinize the findings for critical lessons that could help prevent similar incidents in the future. The debate surrounding runway barrier design and placement, ignited by the Jeju Air crash, may ultimately lead to revised international standards and a renewed commitment to prioritizing passenger safety above all else.
For now, the families and friends of the 179 individuals who lost their lives in this catastrophic accident are left to grapple with the immeasurable weight of their grief. As the investigation unfolds and the aviation industry reflects on the tragedy’s implications, the victims’ loved ones, and indeed the world, will be watching closely, hoping for answers and actions that could spare others from enduring such profound heartbreak in the future.
