A passenger jet operated by the low-cost carrier Jin Air has been stuck at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do for over six weeks since the Jeju Air plane crash in December. The aircraft is now scheduled to take off after Jin Air, which has incurred financial losses estimated to be in the hundreds of millions to tens of billions of won, filed a lawsuit, prompting the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to reconsider its earlier decision to deny flight clearance.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and aviation industry sources, on 13 February, authorities intend to temporarily reopen the runway at Muan International Airport to enable Jin Air's Boeing 737-800 (HL8012) to depart at 12:30 p.m. on 16 February.
The plane landed at Muan Airport from Taipei, Taiwan, on December 29 at 8:54 a.m. but stayed on the ground for 44 days because the airport's runway was closed after a Jeju Air passenger plane crashed at 9:03 a.m. that morning.
Jin Air has repeatedly asked to relocate the aircraft, but MOLIT reportedly refused, without providing a clear reason. Other planes at Muan Airport, such as a Coast Guard transport plane and a university training plane, were granted permission to take off on January 12 and 21, respectively, when the runway was temporarily open. However, at the time, Jin Air's request was not approved. Currently, takeoffs are allowed at Muan Airport, but landings are still restricted.
Jin Air estimates financial losses in the tens of billions of South Korean won due to the aircraft's prolonged grounding. The airline incurs approximately $210,000 per month in lease payments for the plane, along with additional losses resulting from missed peak-season revenue, maintenance costs, and parking fees. On February 7, Jin Air filed a lawsuit against the government at the Seoul Central District Court, though the exact amount of damages sought has not been disclosed.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has not given an official explanation for not granting flight clearance, but it is thought that authorities might be looking into whether Jin Air's planned landing schedule could have contributed to the Jeju Air crash. During a parliamentary hearing on February 6, regarding the December 29 incident, Minister Park Sang-woo stated, “If the Jin Air aircraft is not needed for the investigation and poses no safety risk, there is no reason to stop its departure.”
The aircraft is expected to be moved to either Gimpo or Incheon for maintenance after approval. The lawsuit is likely to be dropped once the plane leaves as prolonged legal action against MOLIT may lead to administrative disadvantages for the airline. A representative from Jin Air stated, "We have yet to confirm the final flight clearance schedule."