Korean Air left a group of international travelers thoroughly confused after a ground transport mix-up at Gimpo Airport sent them straight into the domestic terminal instead of the international arrivals area.
The incident took place on June 7, 2026, involving Korean Air flight KE2106, which departed from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport bound for Gimpo Airport in South Korea.
What Went Wrong
According to a report by The Korea Herald, published Thursday, September 10, 2026, passengers disembarking the aircraft were picked up by a series of buses meant to transport them to the international terminal. However, one bus carrying 52 passengers was mistakenly driven to the domestic terminal instead.
Making matters worse, these passengers ended up entering the domestic terminal alongside travelers arriving on other domestic flights. In the confusion, four passengers reportedly left the airport entirely without completing immigration procedures. Fortunately, all four returned afterward to properly complete the required process.
Korean Air’s Response
Korean Air stated that the bus driver, an employee of a ground handling service company, mistakenly drove the bus to the wrong terminal. The airline said it immediately coordinated with relevant authorities to ensure all affected passengers completed the mandatory immigration procedures.
Regulatory Fallout
South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport determined that Korean Air had violated aviation security regulations and imposed a fine of 10 million won (roughly Rp 131 million) on the airline.
Korean Air stated it is treating the incident seriously and will review its ground handling operations to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future.
What This Means for International Travelers
While mix-ups like this are rare, this incident is a good reminder to always double-check that you’ve been directed to the correct terminal when arriving on an international flight, particularly at airports handling both domestic and international traffic. If something feels off, like being routed alongside passengers from domestic flights, it’s worth speaking up with ground staff immediately rather than assuming the process is correct.
