Despite government pledges, no structural airport improvements made; pilots criticize risk-shifting measures
The Korean Pilots’ Labor Union Alliance (Pilots’ Alliance) pointed out that one year after the Jeju Air flight 2216 tragedy at Muan Airport, no structural improvements have been made to address dangerous airports.
The Pilots’ Alliance stated in a declaration on the first anniversary of the Jeju Air flight 2216 accident at Muan Airport on the 28th, “None of us on the front lines — pilots, maintenance engineers, cabin crew, and others directly responsible for the lives and safety of passengers — can say that aviation safety has improved,” adding, “Following the accident, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) Minister publicly declared, ‘We may have lost the cow, but we will definitely fix the barn,’ and announced an aviation safety innovation plan in April this year. However, despite the flashy title, nothing has changed on the ground.” The alliance emphasized, “While airport facility improvements are urgently needed, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has instead proposed operational directives that shift risks onto experienced pilots as a countermeasure, and these remain in effect today.”
The alliance explained, “Despite the urgent need for airport facility improvements, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has instead proposed operational directives that shift risks onto experienced pilots as a countermeasure, and these remain in effect today.”
The alliance argued that the localizer mound at Muan Airport, along with the H-beam steel obstacles at Jeju Airport — used by millions of citizens — pose structural risks that even the most skilled pilots cannot avoid. It stated, “This is an act of neglecting passengers’ lives. Gimhae Airport, too, proceeded with rushed patchwork repairs only after the APEC summit, prioritizing visits by foreign leaders over public safety.”
The alliance also criticized bird strike prevention measures, stating, “Without analysis of bird habitats at each airport or plans for educating and operating full-time monitoring personnel, the ‘plan’ filled with empty slogans is merely a waste of taxpayers’ money.” It added, “More seriously, despite decades of regulations under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s notices failing to be implemented — leading to accidents — the ministry only attempted to revise the enforcement decrees and rules of the Airport Facilities Act last October, as if no regulations had existed before.”
Additionally, the alliance evaluated that even one year after the accident, air traffic controller staffing remains far below international standards, and the accident investigation has been disappointing. It noted that only two inadequate safety recommendations were issued over the year, and even these were announced without proper explanations or press releases, leaving the public unaware of their existence.
The alliance stated, “In 2026, the ICAO Aviation Safety Audit (USOAP) will be conducted for the first time in 18 years since 2008,” and emphasized, “The government’s immediate duty is not to hastily present flashy safety policies or amend laws to score points for the USOAP but to ensure the safety of Korea’s skies.”
Finally, the alliance urged the government to “immediately establish a system where the voices of the field are substantively reflected in policies, rather than holding formal meetings or showcasing superficial plans, ensuring that the experiences and advice of frontline workers translate into policy.”
