[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] A Jin Air passenger aircraft experienced an in-flight incident in which a fuselage panel detached from the underside of the plane.
While no injuries were reported, the incident posed potential safety risks, including operational disruption and the possibility of secondary accidents from falling debris. The aviation industry is voicing growing concerns over aircraft maintenance standards.
According to a report by Kookmin Ilbo on Thursday, the incident occurred on April 8 during flight LJ451, which departed Gwangju Airport at around 10:00 a.m. and landed at Jeju Airport at 10:30 a.m. Upon post-landing inspection, Jin Air discovered that part of the external panel was missing.
As a precautionary measure, Jeju and Gwangju airports temporarily suspended takeoffs and landings to inspect the runways for debris. The inspection, which lasted about five minutes, did not uncover any remains of the missing panel.
The aircraft was carrying a total of 140 people—134 passengers and 6 crew members—and landed safely without any reported injuries. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, no secondary damage related to the fallen panel has been reported.
The missing panel was located on the lower part of the fuselage, where the aircraft’s left wing connects to the body. Photographs revealed a large hole beneath the aircraft, exposing internal structures. This particular section is known to enhance the plane’s aerodynamic performance.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
