Korean Air, Jeju, T’way Fined $2.6M for Safety Violations

South Korea has fined Korean Air, Jeju Air, and T’way Air a combined 3.54 billion won (US$2.6 million) for violating the Aviation Safety Act, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced. The penalties follow intensified scrutiny of the country’s aviation safety protocols after the fatal crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in December 2024 at Muan International Airport, which killed 179 passengers and crew members.

T’way Air received the largest fine, totaling 2.6 billion won, for multiple violations including skipping hydraulic fluid tests, reusing filters, and failing to adhere to Boeing’s prescribed seven-day maintenance intervals for three B737-800 aircraft. Authorities also found that the airline had altered maintenance records following rediscovery of previously reported defects.

Jeju Air was fined 800 million won for failing to conduct mandatory flight checks within 48 hours for two aircraft and for mishandling an engine malfunction, which led to repeated technical issues.

Korean Air received a 133 million won fine for improperly maintaining the flap systems on several A330-300 jets. The airline had installed critical equipment using temporary fasteners in deviation from standard protocols.

In addition to the fines, South Korean regulators suspended the licenses of eight maintenance engineers—three each from T’way Air and Jeju Air, and two from Korean Air—for periods ranging from 15 to 45 days.

The Ministry pledged to enhance oversight to ensure compliance across all areas of aircraft maintenance and operations. The decision followed a penalty review committee meeting held in early April, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, scmp.com

Tags: FlightSafety, SyndicEx250622B

Korean Air, Jeju, T’way Fined $2.6M for Safety Violations

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