2024.10.22. The Fair Economy — A balloon filled with trash, sent by Kim Jong-un, fell on a domestic airport, delaying over a hundred aircraft takeoffs and landings.
Rep. Kwon Yeong-jin, the People Power Party secretary of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, said on the 22nd that according to data submitted by Incheon International Airport Corporation and Korea Airports Corporation, North Korean trash balloons caused Incheon International Airport to temporarily suspend runway operations 17 times over five separate days from June 1 to date, and Gimpo Airport three times on July 24 alone.
As a result, Incheon International Airport Corporation reported delays in takeoffs and landings for a total of 150 aircraft (47 waiting for takeoff, 13 go-arounds, 15 diversions, 75 holding), while Korea Airports Corporation reported delays for 22 aircraft (7 waiting for takeoff, 2 go-arounds, 13 holding).
From June 1 to date, debris from falling trash balloons was found 21 times. Of these, Incheon International Airport Corporation accounted for 12 cases and Gimpo Airport for 9 cases.
Korea Airports Corporation failed to track and manage the falling trash balloons in advance, and Gimpo Airport staff discovered the balloon debris late during runway inspections on three occasions.
Rep. Kwon Yeong-jin pointed out, "Trash balloons pose a serious threat to aircraft operations and require immediate response upon falling, yet the late discovery of the debris by airport staff is a serious problem," and urged, "Korea Airports Corporation should establish a hotline system for real-time simultaneous communication with the military and control towers to track and manage the ascent, movement, and fall of trash balloons in real time, ensuring the safe operation of aircraft."
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