One of the former managers of Muan International Airport, which came into the spotlight due to the Jeju Air crash last month, has tragically passed away. According to a police statement made on Wednesday, Son Chang-wan, the former president of Korea Airports Corporation (KAC), was found dead in his home in Gunpo.
Son Chang-wan, who served as the president of KAC from 2018 to 2022, showed no signs of foul play or forced entry before his death. The police are investigating the possibility that it may have been a suicide.
Catastrophe Leading to the Deaths of 179 People
On 29th December, Jeju Air flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800, crashed into a concrete wall at Muan International Airport, resulting in an explosion that killed 179 people. The disaster has been recorded as the largest aviation accident in South Korean history and became the deadliest incident globally since the Lion Air crash in 2018.
Security Failures Under Scrutiny
Following the crash, the security measures at Muan International Airport have come under close inspection. Critics have pointed out that the concrete structure where the crash occurred was not made from more easily breakable materials, which they believe would have reduced the severity of the disaster. While government officials have stated that the structure complied with existing safety regulations, an examination by the Ministry of Transport revealed that seven of the country’s airports did not meet security standards.
Airport Improvements and New Regulations
The Ministry of Transport announced plans to replace the concrete structure at Muan with a lighter, more breakable material. Additionally, work has begun on the use of lighter steel for airport separators and the expansion of safety zones at the ends of runways at other airports. Muan’s runway is expected to remain closed until mid-April.
Son Chang-wan’s Death and Ongoing Investigations
Son Chang-wan was serving as the president of KAC when renovation works at Muan began in 2020. However, the Jeonnam Provincial Police confirmed that he was not a part of the ongoing investigation into the crash. KAC officials have stated that the incident is related to Son Chang-wan’s personal matters and have refrained from making an official statement.
Meanwhile, the investigation team has been facing difficulties in accessing important data due to a malfunction of the flight data recorder. The police have also imposed a travel ban on the general director of Jeju Air.
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