SEOUL, Dec 30 (Alliance News): Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Monday mandated an emergency safety inspection across South Korea’s airline operations as investigators sought to uncover the cause of the country’s deadliest air disaster.
The crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 at Muan International Airport on Sunday claimed 179 lives, including 175 passengers and four crew members, when the aircraft belly-landed, skidded off the runway, and erupted into flames after striking a wall. Two crew members were rescued alive.
Choi emphasized the urgency of identifying the victims, supporting families, and aiding the survivors. He called for transparency in the investigation process and urged swift communication with the victims’ families. The transport ministry will launch a detailed safety inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean carriers once recovery operations are complete.
Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, en route from Bangkok with 181 people on board, experienced issues during its landing approach, with pilots reporting a bird strike and subsequently declaring a mayday before the crash. Investigators are analyzing potential factors, including weather conditions, the bird strike, and the performance of the localizer antenna near the runway.
Authorities recovered the plane’s flight data recorder, which sustained exterior damage, and are working to assess its integrity for analysis.
Muan International Airport remains closed through Wednesday as officials continue their work amid emotional scenes from families awaiting the identification of the victims. Shares of Jeju Air dropped by over 15%, hitting record lows.
Under international protocols, South Korea is leading the civil investigation, joined by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Acting President Choi assumed leadership three days ago after the impeachment of the country’s president and prime minister over the imposition of martial law.
