A Jeju Air flight bound for Japan narrowly avoided disaster after descending perilously close to the ground before aborting its landing, according to an interim report by South Korean authorities.
The Boeing 737-800, carrying 192 passengers and crew, was approaching Japan's Osaka International Airport when it dropped to just 15 metres (50 feet) above the ground - far below the standard safety altitude.
Critical Moments Before Potential Tragedy
Investigators revealed the aircraft descended to this dangerously low altitude while still 5.6km (3.5 miles) from the runway. Standard procedure requires planes to maintain at least 300 metres (1,000 feet) until the final approach.
The report states the pilots initiated a go-around procedure after receiving multiple automated warnings from the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS). This quick thinking potentially averted what could have been a catastrophic accident.
What Went Wrong?
Preliminary findings suggest several concerning factors:
- Incorrect altitude settings entered into the flight management system
- Failure to properly monitor altitude during approach
- Delayed response to automated warning systems
The incident occurred on 28 June 2024, when visibility was good with no adverse weather conditions reported.
Aviation Experts Express Concern
Aviation safety specialists have described the incident as "deeply troubling" and have called for immediate review of pilot training procedures at Jeju Air, South Korea's largest low-cost carrier.
"This wasn't just a minor deviation - this was seconds away from potentially becoming one of aviation's worst disasters," said one industry expert who wished to remain anonymous.
The final investigation report is expected within six months, with authorities examining cockpit voice recordings and flight data in detail.
