What happened
On March 15, 1999, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft registered as HL7340 operated by Korean Air was conducting a domestic passenger service from Gimpo International Airport to Pohang Airport. During the approach and landing phase at Pohang Airport, the flight overshot the designated runway 10 threshold.
The aircraft failed to stop within the available runway limits and continued beyond the paved surface. Despite the severity of the incident, which resulted in the total destruction of the airframe, there were no fatalities reported among the occupants. All 156 individuals on board, comprising both crew members and passengers, survived the accident.
Investigation
The aviation accident involving Korean Air Flight 1533 was investigated to determine the circumstances surrounding the runway excursion. The inquiry focused on the operational factors that led to the aircraft's inability to halt safely on the runway at Pohang Airport.
Official records confirm that no fatalities occurred during this event. The investigation established that while the aircraft was destroyed, the survival rate was 100% for all persons on board. The specific technical or human factors contributing to the overrun were part of the official record, but the primary outcome noted was the structural loss of the aircraft versus the safety of the occupants.