South Korea's Muan airport resumes operation 56 days after deadly crash

A South Korean airport, which was shut in December due to a passenger plane crash, has resumed flights for emergency medical care and educational training after 56 days, airport officials said on Monday.

Muan International Airport was completely closed due to the Jeju Air passenger plane crash on Dec. 29 last year, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

The country's aviation authorities allowed flights approved by the airport's control tower for rescue, search, or medical evacuation beginning at 9 p.m. local time (1200GMT) Sunday.

Some 179 out of a total 181 passengers onboard were killed when a Jeju Air jet from Bangkok erupted into flames on Dec. 29 after crashing into the localizer's concrete mound as it overshot the runway when it made an emergency belly landing at the airport, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul.

Only two passengers survived.

Aviation authorities also permitted educational institutions to conduct visual flights during the week without using a localizer, which provides precision guidance to aircraft approaching a runway.

Currently, five universities and three private organizations conduct flight training at the airport, using 21 aircraft.

Civilian passenger flights to and from Muan have been suspended until April 18 to allow for safety and facility inspections.