A passenger jet operated by the low-cost carrier Jin Air has been stranded at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do for more than six weeks following the Jeju Air plane crash last December. The aircraft is now set to depart after Jin Air—which has incurred financial losses estimated between hundreds of millions to tens of billions of won—filed an administrative lawsuit, prompting the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) to reverse its earlier decision denying flight clearance.
According to MOLIT and aviation industry sources on Feb. 13, authorities plan to temporarily reopen the runway at Muan International Airport to allow Jin Air’s Boeing 737-800 (HL8012) to take off at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 16.
The aircraft arrived at Muan Airport from Taipei, Taiwan, on Dec. 29 at 8:54 a.m. but remained grounded for 44 days due to the airport’s runway closure following the Jeju Air passenger jet crash at 9:03 a.m. that day.
Despite multiple requests from Jin Air to relocate the aircraft, MOLIT reportedly denied clearance without providing a clear explanation. Other aircraft present at Muan Airport during the incident—including a Korea Coast Guard transport plane and a university training aircraft—were granted departure clearance on Jan. 12 and Jan. 21, respectively, when the runway was temporarily reopened. Conditional flight clearance was issued at the time, but Jin Air’s request was not approved. While Muan Airport currently allows takeoffs, landings remain restricted.
Jin Air estimates financial losses in the tens of billions of won due to the aircraft’s prolonged grounding. The airline pays $210,000 per month to lease the plane, with additional losses stemming from missed peak-season revenue, maintenance costs, and parking fees. On Feb. 7, Jin Air filed a damages lawsuit against the government at the Seoul Central District Court, though it has not disclosed the amount sought.
MOLIT has not provided an official reason for denying flight clearance, but speculation suggests authorities may be examining whether Jin Air’s landing schedule played a role in the Jeju Air crash. During a parliamentary hearing on Feb. 6 regarding the Dec. 29 incident, MOLIT Minister Park Sang-woo stated, “If the Jin Air aircraft is not required for the investigation and poses no safety threat, there is no reason to prevent its departure.”
Once approved, the aircraft is expected to be relocated to Gimpo or Incheon for maintenance. The lawsuit is likely to be withdrawn after the plane’s departure, as prolonged legal action against MOLIT could pose administrative disadvantages for the airline. A Jin Air representative said, “We have yet to confirm the final flight clearance schedule.”
