Expert questions if wall Jeju Air plane crashed into should have been there at all

A growing chorus of criticism from experts analysing the Jeju Air plane crash that killed 179 people at Muan International Airport on Sunday has focused on whether airport construction could have played a part. The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea when it made a mayday call and belly-landing before crashing into a barrier and bursting into flames. Dramatic video footage of Flight 2216's landing has led experts to question if whether the wall the plane crashed into should have been there at all. Kim Kwang-il, Professor of Aeronautical Science at Silla University and a former pilot, said he was "quite upset" when he reviewed video showing the plane making a skilled emergency landing but then hitting a wall. "The structure in question caused the aircraft to crash and catch fire. Outside the airport, there are usually just fences, which are soft and wouldn't cause significant damage. The plane could have skidded further and stopped naturally. The unnecessary structure is highly regrettable." As investigators probe why the Jeju Air plane crash-landed and burst into flames, another Jeju Airlines flight using the same model aircraft experienced a malfunction linked to the landing gear and was forced to return to Seoul's Gimpo airport shortly after takeoff, the Yonhap News Agency reported. "We are aware of the return incident and looking into the cause," a Jeju Air representative told AFP. "We can't say at this moment it was related to landing gear malfunction pending an investigation."<br/>