New Incheon runway may violate no-fly zone

Defense ministry gave warning prior to construction

A new runway under construction at the Incheon International Airport is unlikely to ever be fully operational, as it was discovered too late that some planes taking off from it would have to use routes that would penetrate a military no-fly zone, a report showed.

According to a report by Rep. Hong Jae-hyung of South Korea’s ruling Uri Party, the third tarmac, completion for which is slated by 2008, would have flights bound for certain destinations cross about 0.8 miles of area named "P518," where the nation’s air force has imposed a ban on civilian aircraft. Some experts estimate a much higher figure, saying that planes will need to enter at least 3.5 miles into the no-fly zone.

In August, the Ministry of National Defense told the Ministry of Construction and Transportation, which approved the construction, that it would be difficult to tolerate a compromise of the P518 area.

The Incheon International Airport started construction on the strip in 2002, investing a total of 4 trillion won (US$4 billion). With the airport’s current two landing strips, in order to take off or land, planes have to wait until the adjacent landing strip is not being used, as they are spaced very close together.