TAIPEI: Taiwan's transportation safety officials confirmed Monday that Taipei's Songshan Airport has been equipped with safety installations, including Engineered Materials Arresting Systems (EMAS), since 2009. The announcement comes in response to concerns following a deadly crash at South Korea's Muan International Airport on Sunday. According to Focus Taiwan, Lin Shinn-der, chairman of the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB), addressed inquiries regarding the relatively short runway at Songshan Airport during a legislative hearing. He assured that the airport's runway end is equipped with EMAS, a specialized crushable material designed to halt aircraft that overrun the runway. The recent crash involved a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 at Muan International Airport, which resulted in the aircraft crashing into a barrier and catching fire. Out of 181 passengers and crew on board, 179 were killed, raising concerns about runway safety measures at airports with short runways. Legislator Lee Kun-tse of the rul ing Democratic Progressive Party pointed out during the hearing that while the runway at Muan Airport is 2,800 meters long, Songshan Airport's is slightly shorter at 2,600 meters. He also recalled a 2004 incident where a TransAsia Airways plane nearly overran the runway in Taipei. Lin emphasized that the purpose of EMAS is to prevent total destruction of an aircraft that overruns a runway and hits a barrier. He added that many airports located in downtown areas rely on EMAS for enhanced safety due to their shorter runways. Before the full installation of EMAS in 2009, Songshan Airport only accommodated smaller aircraft. However, the airport now welcomes larger planes thanks to these safety advancements. Lin also mentioned that additional special materials have been used in constructing the airport's enclosing wall to provide further protection in the event of a crash.
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