Muan Airport Disaster Not Even Half a Year Ago... Airlines Fined 3.5 Billion for 'Safety Violations'

[Financial News] Korean Air, Jeju Air, and T'way Air have been fined over 3.5 billion won for violating the Aviation Safety Act.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 27th that it has imposed a total fine of 3.5 billion 380 million won on three airlines and confirmed the suspension of qualifications for eight aircraft maintenance engineers. Specifically, Korean Air was fined 133 million won (1 case), Jeju Air 800 million won (2 cases), and T'way Air 2.6 billion 500 million won (3 cases). This decision was finalized after going through the administrative disposition review committee, prior notification to the airlines and aviation personnel, hearing opinions, and hearing procedures.
Korean Air was fined 133 million won and two maintenance engineers received a 15-day suspension each for violating the procedures specified in the maintenance manual by installing equipment on temporarily fixed parts during maintenance work related to the flap, a control system.
Jeju Air was found to have exceeded the 48-hour limit for pre- and post-flight inspections of two aircraft. It was also confirmed that the same defect recurred due to violations of appropriate troubleshooting procedures according to the manual when engine defects occurred. In this regard, a total fine of 800 million won was imposed, and three maintenance engineers received suspensions of 30 days (1 person) and 15 days (2 people) each.
T'way Air conducted inspections of engine exhaust outlet cracks on three aircraft according to an arbitrarily set cycle instead of the manufacturer's standard (7 days). It was also confirmed that they violated the manufacturer's maintenance manual by omitting filter replacement during maintenance related to hydraulic system defects and reusing hydraulic filters despite the prohibition. There were also complex maintenance regulation violations, such as operating aircraft without conducting hydraulic fluid component inspections.
Furthermore, when defects were discovered again after confirming airworthiness, it was confirmed that existing maintenance records were arbitrarily deleted or modified contrary to the facts. In this regard, a total fine of 2.6 billion 500 million won was imposed, and three maintenance engineers received suspensions of 45 days (1 person), 30 days (1 person), and 15 days (1 person) each.
A representative from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated, "We will continue to strictly deal with legal violations that could jeopardize aviation safety to prevent recurrence," and "We plan to continuously strengthen management and supervision of maintenance and operation areas to ensure that airlines do not neglect investment in aviation safety."
hoya0222@fnnews.com Kim Dong-ho Reporter