Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) has been fined KRW3.3 billion (USD2.9 million) by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for breaching maintenance requirements, reports Yonhap News. The fine covers three instances in the past few months.
The airline had been found to either have delayed or failed to carry out maintenance inspections of aircraft. The first instance involved a Dalian - Seoul Incheon flight in which the aircraft was not properly inspected before take-off. The original KRW2.4 billion (USD2.1 million) fine was reduced to KRW1.8 billion (USD1.5 million) following an appeal. The other two infractions similarly relate to inspection failures, one of the inertial navigation system of a cargo aircraft, and the other of the wings of two A330s.
Asiana Airlines (OZ, Seoul Incheon) also faced a penalty after a flight from Busan to Saipan aboard an A320 was forced to turn back due to maintenance issues. Its fine is KRW300 million (USD260,000).
Other penalties meted out by the department were to t'way Air (TW, Daegu) for falsifying air logs, and to a Jeju Air (7C, Jeju) pilot who failed to renew his English proficiency certification. The captain elected to pay the fine in lieu of being reported to Chinese authorities.
