A flock of birds flies near the site of the Jeju Air passenger plane collision and explosion at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla Province, Monday. Yonhap

The Jeju Air flight 2216, which crashed in the catastrophic tragedy, completed its pre-departure maintenance in just 28 minutes, the official minimum time mandated for B737 aircraft by the Korean government.

The tight maintenance schedule has raised concerns over whether the low-cost carrier (LCC) prioritized operational efficiency over safety, as the plane underwent an intense itinerary the day before the accident, connecting four international cities without significant downtime.

The ill-fated aircraft operated flights between Muan and Kota Kinabalu, Nagasaki, Taipei and Bangkok, executing a total of eight departures within a single day, multiple sources said Monday. According to industry standards, planes require time for maintenance, cleaning and refueling between flights.

However, on Nov. 27, the flight spent just 62 minutes on the ground at Muan International Airport before departing for Kota Kinabalu, suggesting that only 28 to 30 minutes were allocated for maintenance.

One veteran mechanic with over a decade of experience working with B737 aircraft at LCCs said, "The 28-minute maintenance time is barely enough to check for cockpit warning lights and visually inspect the exterior for obvious damage. It's essentially a walkthrough, not a detailed inspection."

LCCs often don't spend more time than the government-mandated minimum to maximize profits, as every additional flight segment contributes significantly to revenue.

A mechanic working for another LCC said, "Limiting preparation times to about one hour, including maintenance, allows carriers to execute ambitious schedules, like flying to three Southeast Asian cities and one Japanese city in a single day."

A man watches a Jeju Air passenger plane preparing for takeoff at the domestic terminal of Gimpo Airport in Gangseo District, Seoul, Monday, the day after the Jeju Air tragedy. Yonhap

Profit-driven scheduling under scrutiny

The aircraft involved in the crash was purchased by Jeju Air in 2017 but had previously been operated by Ryanair, a European LCC known for its aggressive scheduling. Ryanair's reputation for minimal maintenance raised suspicions about the aircraft's history.

"Ryanair is infamous for tight turnarounds and may have overused this plane during its service. The aircraft might have already been pushed to its limits before Jeju Air acquired it," an industry insider said.

The tragedy has reignited debates over whether the government's mandated minimum maintenance times are sufficient to ensure safety. Critics argue that the 28-minute standard leaves no room for identifying potential issues.

A former maintenance chief at a major airline said, "The 28-minute check is like applying a band-aid. It doesn't account for potential hidden faults. The industry's approach to safety should be proactive, not reactive."

Landing gear defect raises red flags

The accident is believed to involve a landing gear malfunction, sparking further questions about the adequacy of maintenance. Alarmingly, just one day after the crash, another Jeju Air B737 experienced a landing gear issue and was forced to return to the airport immediately after takeoff.

"The fact that another aircraft of the same model from the same airline encountered similar problems highlights systemic issues," an aviation expert said.

There are growing calls within the aviation industry to extend the mandated maintenance times and overhaul LCC flight schedules. "Thorough maintenance requires more time. Airlines might need to sacrifice one flight segment or dedicate additional resources to inspections," the former maintenance chief said.

Jeju Air, however, has defended its practices. "We strictly adhere to planned schedules and carry out thorough pre-flight and post-flight inspections," Song Kyung-hoon, the airline's head of management support, said during a press briefing on Nov. 28. "Our operations cannot be categorized as excessive or rushed," he added.

Despite Jeju Air's defense, questions linger over whether its operational strategy prioritizes profit at the expense of safety.

Aviation regulators and industry stakeholders are now under pressure to reassess existing guidelines, particularly the minimum maintenance time required for aircraft, to prevent future tragedies.

Jeju Air passengers check in at the domestic terminal of Gimpo Airport in Gangseo District, Seoul, Monday, the day after the Jeju Air tragedy. Yonhap

A race against the clock

A mechanic working in the industry described the high-stress environment of LCC maintenance schedules: "We're racing against the clock. A 28-minute check barely allows time to ensure the plane is airworthy. Anything more detailed simply doesn't fit into the timeline."

In light of the crash, experts are urging a shift in priorities. "It's time to put safety ahead of profit. The bare minimum is not enough when lives are at stake," the former maintenance chief said.

The investigation into the crash continues, with the aviation community bracing for significant changes in maintenance and operational practices in the wake of the tragedy.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.