South Korea has already promised to revamp its air safety system totally following two incidents that occurred in aviation within the span of one month. Yesterday, the ministry announced that there is a newly set committee tasked with improving safety on air travel within the country.
Deputy Minister Baek Won-kuk said, “To win back public confidence in the aviation safety system in our country, the government will make a full-fledged attempt to rebuild it from scratch.” He added in a ministry statement that the safety of aviation had to be a priority for the administration.
Air Disasters Suggest Recent Rise in Safety Breaches
The pressure comes after deadliest air tragedy in South Korea, when on December 29, a Jeju Air crashed near Muan Airport, killing all but two of the 181 passengers and crew. Preliminary probes into the accident discovered duck remains in both engines, indicating bird strikes were a factor before the crash. Analysts argue that most air accidents are caused by the simultaneous action of multiple factors.
Another frightening incident happened last week when an Air Busan caught fire at the international airport in the city of Busan. That fire was in an overhead compartment of the bus and had alerted a flight attendant, who rapidly evacuated all those on board passengers.
Committee to Address Significant Safety Issues
A new 10-week committee will introduce private sector experts to assess critical factors, including aircraft maintenance, budget airline utilization rates, and airport construction and operations. The authorities have also announced modifications to navigation equipment support structures at seven airports in response to the Jeju Air crash.
With ongoing investigations into both incidents, the South Korean government is taking swift action to enhance aviation safety and prevent future disasters.
