Pilot-Turned-YouTuber: "Best to Land on Fuselage... Disaster Caused by Concrete Embankment"

"The pilot made the best belly landing in history"
"The cause of the disaster is the hump"…claimed by pilot-turned-YouTuber
"Nowhere in the world is a localizer installed on a concrete hump… all must be removed," he pointed out

The moment of the passenger plane collision during the Muan Jeju Air disaster. Photo by MBC

As criticism mounts that the concrete structure (embankment) installed at Muan International Airport contributed to the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster, a pilot-turned-YouTuber also claimed, "The belly landing was excellent, but ultimately the embankment was the problem."

The pilot-turned-YouTuber 'Pilot Reading Investment Tips,' who has 1.08 million subscribers, opened up by saying, "As the captain of the aircraft involved in the accident, it hurts my heart even more," and "I felt the need to reveal the truth, so I made this video." He added, "I have about 7,000 flight hours. The captain involved in the accident had about 6,700 hours. He became a captain around the same time as I did and operated the same type of aircraft, so I understand the situation."

"The Cause of the Disaster Was the Concrete Embankment... Also Regretful That There Was No EMAS"

Firefighters are searching for fuel items at the site of the Jeju Air passenger plane collision and explosion accident that occurred at Muan International Airport, Jeonnam, 30 days ago. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

He pointed to the 'concrete embankment' as the cause of the accident. The YouTuber said, "The captain and first officer tried their best to stop the plane until the very last moment before the collision," and "If there was something the pilots didn’t know, it was the concrete embankment at Muan Airport. This is strong enough to explode even if a KTX train hits it. Nowhere else in the world is a localizer installed on a concrete embankment. All airports with concrete embankments must demolish and replace these structures."

At the same time, he pointed out the absence of EMAS, the foam concrete that breaks upon impact. It is used to stop the fuselage when a plane veers off the runway by crumbling like straws. The YouTuber said, "There are many EMAS installations overseas. They are very helpful in deceleration," and "The reason EMAS is not installed is because it is single-use. Once it breaks after use, it must be replaced." He added, "If the concrete embankment is removed and EMAS is installed, it can slow down the plane even if the landing gear fails to deploy, saving many lives." Furthermore, he emphasized, "The pilot’s landing was very nice. We should start by holding accountable those responsible for erecting the concrete wall."

"Belly Landing in the Sea Is Reckless... The Pilot Executed the Best Possible Belly Landing"

On the 29th, at Muan International Airport in Jeonnam, a Jeju Air passenger plane carrying 181 passengers collided with the outer wall of the runway during landing, causing a fire that resulted in a major disaster with most passengers dying. The forensic investigation team is searching for casualties outside the runway at Muan International Airport.

Regarding why the pilot did not land in the sea, he said, "The survival rate for a belly landing in the sea is 20%, while it is 90% for a belly landing on the runway. Heading into the sea is extremely reckless, and the pilot executed the best possible belly landing," raising his voice. "From what I saw, the aircraft was almost undamaged, making it one of the most excellent belly landings in history."

At the time of the accident, the Jeju Air passenger plane attempted a belly landing after receiving landing clearance from the control tower but crashed into the embankment beyond the runway and exploded. Foreign aviation experts and former pilots argue that the collision with the structure caused significant casualties. In response, airport officials stated, "The localizer, installed to safely guide aircraft landings, was installed according to regulations as its durability period had expired," maintaining that there was no problem. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport initially stated after the accident that it was "installed lawfully," but later changed its stance to "review the relevant regulations more closely."