Muan: Questions have intensified regarding a concrete mound at Muan International Airport, which some experts believe may have contributed to the high casualty rate in the recent Jeju Air crash. The tragic incident, which occurred on Sunday, resulted in the deaths of 179 out of 181 passengers on board when the aircraft overran the runway and exploded upon impact with the mound.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the concrete mound houses a navigation system known as a localizer, critical for assisting aircraft landings. Positioned approximately 250 meters from the runway's end, this 4-meter-high structure was recently built following the replacement of the localizer. The mound is designed to align the localizer with the runway due to the sloped terrain at the runway's end, according to airport officials.

Some aviation experts and observers have questioned the necessity of the mound, suggesting that its absence might have reduced the crash's fatalities. The plane skidded roughly 1,600 meters before crashing into the structure. A pilot, who requested anonymity, expressed surprise at the design, stating, "I've seen many antennas in many airports but it's the first time I've seen such a type."

The transport ministry has confirmed that similar localizer installations exist at other airports within the country and abroad. It is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the crash's cause. Meanwhile, the remains of 141 victims have been tentatively identified, as reported by the transport ministry.