S. Korean airlines rush to set up 2-person cockpit rule

SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean air carriers have begun to introduce safety rules requiring at least two people to man the cockpit at all times, industry officials said Wednesday, following the deadly crash of a Germanwings flight.

Last week, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport sent out an official notice to local air carriers to have the cockpit manned by a minimum of two people at all times during flights, according to industry officials.

The notice stipulates that if one of the two pilots leaves the cockpit, a flight attendant must be present during his or her absence.

The move comes amid the recent revelation that the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 4U9525 deliberately crashed the plane in southern France while the pilot was locked out of the cockpit, killing all crew and passengers on board.

Following the notice, local low-cost carriers Eastar Jet Co., T'way Airlines and Jin Air Co. have made changes to their policies. The country's No. 2 carrier Asiana Airlines Co. and its subsidiary Air Busan Co. are looking to introduce the new safety rules early this month.

Among local carriers, industry leader Korean Air Lines Co. and budget airliner Jeju Air Co. already had similar policies adopted prior to the Germanwings crash that left 150 passengers and crew members dead.

yjkim8826@yna.co.kr
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