The Korean Air shuttle bus carried 4 people to the wrong terminal and entered the country without customs.
Quick Look
Korean Air flight KE2106 from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Seoul Gimpo Airport on June 7 was fined 10 million won by the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism because the shuttle driver mistakenly took 52 international passengers to the domestic terminal, causing four people to enter the country without customs inspection.
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Why It Matters
Korean Air is South Korea's largest airline, operating international and domestic routes. The airport shuttle bus is a necessary step for international passengers to go to customs for inspection after arrival. Any transfer to the wrong terminal may lead to missed entry procedures.
A Korean Air shuttle bus carried 52 international passengers to the domestic terminal, allowing four people to enter the country without going through customs inspection. Schematic diagram of a Korean Air passenger plane. (AP)
Korean Air flight KE2106 arrived at Seoul Gimpo Airport from Tokyo Haneda Airport in Japan on June 7. A list of 52 passengers showed that 52 passengers were mistakenly taken to the domestic terminal by the shuttle bus, allowing four people to enter the country without going through customs inspection. South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has now announced that it will fine Korean Air 10 million won (approximately NT$235,000).
According to the Yonhap News Agency, Korean Air had several shuttle buses taking passengers to the international terminal for customs clearance, but one of them took people to the domestic terminal. The 52 people on the bus did not know it. After getting off the bus, they mixed with other domestic tourists and entered. Four of them left the airport without undergoing any inspection.
Please read on...
Korean Air stated that a ground shuttle driver drove the wrong route at that time. When the company learned of the incident, it immediately notified the airport and activated SOP. The four passengers were later called back to the airport to go through immigration procedures again. They will review and improve relevant measures to avoid a similar situation from happening again.
Open Questions
- Will the shuttle driver face disciplinary action?
- Will Korean Air strengthen ground staff training and route inspection mechanisms?
- Will the four passengers who entered the country without inspection be eventually traced and complete the legal entry procedures?
