South Korean transport minister to resign over Jeju Air crash: ‘I feel heavy responsibility’
Park Sang-woo intends to step down over the Jeju Air crash – South Korea’s worst air disaster – pledging swift enhancements to airport landing safety systems
South Korea’s transport minister said on Tuesday he intends to step down to take responsibility for the deadly crash of a Boeing jet operated by Jeju Air on December 29.
Jeju Air 7C2216, which departed the Thai capital of Bangkok for Muan in southwestern South Korea, belly-landed and overshot the regional airport’s runway, exploding into flames after hitting an embankment.
“I feel heavy responsibility for this disaster,” Park Sang-woo told a press briefing.
He said he will try to find the right timing to resign after addressing the current situation.
The transport ministry also said it will swiftly improve the safety of airport landing systems that experts said contributed to the catastrophic accident that killed 179 people on board.
01:16
‘I feel heavy responsibility’: South Korean transport minister to resign over Jeju Air crash
Air safety experts have said the embankment, designed to prop up the “localiser” antenna used to guide landings in poor visibility, was too rigid and too close to the end of the runway.
