Pilot Testifies Lack of Awareness About Hazardous Concrete Mound at Muan International Airport
Muan, South Korea – A pilot with seven years of experience at Muan International Airport testified that he had not been informed about the existence of a concrete mound housing a localizer on the runway, which is believed to have played a critical role in a recent catastrophic accident.
The pilot, identified as a flight instructor, shared his account with Yonhap News on Thursday, stating that he had mistaken the mound for a dirt pile during numerous take-offs and landings. “I’ve seen the mound from the air countless times and assumed it was just a pile of dirt. It never occurred to me that it was made of concrete,” he explained.
The concrete structure is believed to have significantly worsened the impact of the accident. During a belly landing, the aircraft collided with the solid mound, reportedly triggering a devastating explosion.
The testimony has raised questions about the airport’s safety measures, including whether proper information about potential runway hazards was communicated to pilots. The incident has prompted calls for an immediate review of safety protocols at Muan International Airport to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the design and placement of the concrete mound, to determine accountability and recommend necessary safety improvements.
