POHANG 15th March 1999
posted online
by
Alex
PATERSON
Last updated: 15 June 1999
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INTRODUCTION
The following incident occurred at Pohang Airport, Korea on 15th March 1999. This was KAL's 11th serious accident since 1990. The incident graphically illustrates why the two Korean carriers, Korean Airlines and Asiana Airlines, are considered by most professional pilots to be the world's two worst airlines.
Both airlines are run by a coterie of military cronies in a company structure devoid of any real means of dissent. The end result of such a mixture is the endemic incompetence giving rise to what follows.
For an insight into the inner workings of these two airlines (or lack thereof) a leaked independent audit report into Korean Airlines (KAL) is available for download at: Korean Airlines Audit Report
Alex Paterson
20th March 1999
Copyright © Alex Paterson 1999
KAL MD-83 POHANG CRASH
Straits Times Tuesday
Runway Mishap Hurts 19
Seoul - A Korean Air Jet skidded off a runway in the south-eastern city of Pohang yesterday, injuring 19 in the latest mishap involving the national carrier.
The MD-83 jet, carrying 156 passengers and crew from Seoul, cracked its fuselage after skidding into an embankment by the runway on its second attempt at landing in stormy weather.
Local television showed the aircraft bent into an un-natural "V", with its belly resting at the bottom of the embankment. No foreigners were among the injured.
Korean Air said in a statement that the main cause of the accident was believed to be bad weather conditions, involving a maximum wind speed of 32 knots.
The Transportation Ministry said Korean Air planes had been involved in nine accidents from last August to February this year. The accidents have been attributed to factors ranging from pilot error to poor maintenance work.
Copyright © Straits Times, Singapore 1999
