Authorities conduct security inspection forward of joint investigation into Air Busan hearth at Gimhae Worldwide Airport, Thursday. Newsis
Two aviation accidents inside a month — the lethal Muan Jeju Air crash on Dec. 29, which claimed 179 lives, and a passenger airplane hearth throughout the Lunar New 12 months vacation — have heightened public issues over flight security.
At 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, an Air Busan BX391 flight certain for Hong Kong caught hearth whereas making ready for takeoff at Gimhae Worldwide Airport in Busan. All 176 passengers have been safely evacuated, with solely seven sustaining minor accidents.
Nonetheless, had the hearth damaged out mid-air, it may have led to a significant catastrophe. In the meantime, on Jan. 29 (native time), a small passenger airplane in the USA collided with a navy helicopter and crashed into a close-by river, including to rising issues over air journey security.
Amid back-to-back aviation accidents, some vacationers are reconsidering their plans and even canceling journeys.
A 59-year-old man surnamed Website positioning, who had deliberate a household journey to Sapporo, Japan subsequent month, determined to cancel his flights, citing security issues.
“Airplane accidents appeared uncommon, however now they really feel too frequent. There’s no assure that my household gained’t be affected,” he stated, including that he was prepared to forfeit a cancellation charge of over 1 million gained ($700).
Each latest incidents in Korea concerned low-cost carriers (LCCs), main some vacationers to change to full-service airways, that are perceived as safer.
A 30-year-old man surnamed Kim, who was planning a visit to Jeju Island, stated, “I’m contemplating switching to a full-service airline that seems to have stricter upkeep and security requirements. I’m even wanting into ferries as a substitute.”
Discussions in on-line journey communities for locations like Hong Kong and Taiwan additionally mirror rising issues.
Posts corresponding to “After Jeju Air and now Air Busan, I’m too anxious to fly” and “I’ll pay further to e book a flight with a full-service service” have been trending.
The affect was already felt after the Jeju Air crash. In accordance with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s aviation portal, the variety of passengers on main LCCs — together with Jeju Air, Jin Air, T’approach Air, Eastar Jet, Air Busan, and Air Seoul — dropped by roughly 8.7 % every week after the Jeju Air crash. Jeju Air was hit the toughest, with a 26.8 % decline in passengers.
Authorities assess security dangers on the Air Busan accident plane at Gimhae Worldwide Airport, Thursday. Yonhap
Investigations take time, fueling public anxiousness
The sluggish tempo of aviation accident investigations is additional contributing to public anxiousness. Greater than a month after the Jeju Air crash, authorities have but to find out the precise trigger.
Within the Air Busan hearth, preliminary findings counsel {that a} passenger’s moveable battery or baggage could have ignited the blaze, however a definitive conclusion will take time.
Gong Ha-seong, a professor of fireside and catastrophe prevention at Woosuk College, stated, “Aviation accident investigations should look at a number of elements, from passenger actions to plane producers in international locations just like the U.S. and France, making the method inherently time-consuming.”
He added, “With repeated incidents, the general public naturally turns into extra inclined to keep away from flying altogether.”
Whereas low-cost carriers are refraining from making official statements, there’s a palpable sense of unease inside the trade.
An LCC official stated, “Inflight fires aren’t a difficulty unique to LCCs. Emergency response protocols and coaching are performed in accordance with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s requirements, identical to full-service airways. It’s untimely to imagine that is particularly an LCC downside.”
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Occasions, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Occasions.
