SEOUL – South Korea is set to completely revamp its aviation safety protocols, as announced by the transport ministry on Tuesday, amid the establishment of a new committee tasked with enhancing air travel practices in the wake of two significant aviation disasters just a month apart.

“To regain confidence in our aviation safety measures, the government is dedicated to rebuilding the system from the ground up,” Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Baek Won-kuk expressed to the newly formed committee, according to a ministry release.

He emphasized the importance of making aviation safety a primary concern for the government.

The most severe aviation tragedy in South Korea’s history occurred on December 29 when a Jeju Air flight crashed while landing at Muan Airport, resulting in the deaths of 179 out of 181 people on board.

Preliminary investigations revealed that duck remains were discovered in both engines, suggesting bird strikes contributed to the accident. Experts note that aviation accidents are often due to several compounding factors.

In another recent incident, an Air Busan aircraft caught fire at Busan International Airport while preparing for takeoff, but thankfully, all passengers were safely evacuated.

According to Air Busan, the flames were first spotted by a flight attendant in the overhead storage area at the back of the plane.

Investigations into the causes of both events are currently underway.

The committee, which is set to function over a 10-week period and include experts from the private sector, will focus on various issues such as the maintenance and utilization rates of budget airline aircraft, as well as the construction and management of airports.

Following the Jeju Air accident, officials announced plans to modify similar structures at seven airports nationwide, as the plane’s belly landing resulted in it crashing into a concrete barrier supporting navigation equipment beyond the runway’s end.