[KoreaCase] Korean Air Flight 801 Crash

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Korean Air Flight 801 Crash

Overview
The Korean Air Flight 801 crash occurred on August 6, 1997, when a Boeing 747-3B5 departing from Gimpo International Airport crashed while attempting to land at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam. Out of 254 people on board, 229 perished in the accident. This aircraft was notable for being Korea’s first B747 model with a Special Upper Deck (SUD) structure.

Accident Sequence
Normally, Airbus A300-600R was used for this route, but due to peak season demand, a larger Boeing 747-3B5 was deployed temporarily. The aircraft was scheduled to arrive at 1:42 PM Guam time, but heavy rain was falling in the area. The control tower notified the crew that the glide slope was inoperative due to maintenance.


During the landing approach, a false glide slope signal was received in the cockpit, confusing the pilots. Consequently, altitude confirmation procedures were skipped, and the aircraft began descending more rapidly than regulations allowed. The captain believed the runway would appear soon and continued the descent, ignoring Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerts. The plane struck a fuel pipeline and crashed into Nimitz Hill, causing a large fire fueled by the wings and 462 liters of duty-free alcohol.



Cause Analysis
The crash resulted from multiple factors, including the captain’s fatigue, a malfunctioning glide slope system, false signals, and poor communication among the crew. Although the crew had been briefed that the Nimitz VOR/DME was located 3 nautical miles from the runway, they seemed to mistake it for the runway position. However, cockpit voice recordings confirmed they were aware of this.

Aftermath
After the crash, Korean Air changed the flight number from KE801 to KE805. Guam International Airport updated its signal system to align with FAA standards. Previously, its Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW) system was centered offshore, unlike other U.S. airports where it is centered on the airport. After the accident, this was corrected.

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