In response to the deadliest air disaster in South Korea’s history, acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an immediate safety inspection of the nation’s entire airline operational system while investigators strive to identify victims and uncover the cause of the tragedy.
A total of 175 passengers and four out of six crew members tragically lost their lives when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport, resulting in a catastrophic fireball as it collided with a wall. Fortunately, two crew members managed to escape alive.
During a disaster management meeting in Seoul, Mr. Choi emphasized that the primary focus is to identify the victims, provide support to their families, and ensure the proper treatment of the two survivors.
“Even before we have the final results, we urge officials to transparently disclose the investigation process related to the accident and keep the bereaved families promptly informed,” he stated.
Choi Sang-mok, South Korea’s acting President, chaired a disaster management meeting in Seoul.
The transportation ministry announced that authorities are evaluating the possibility of conducting a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which was arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, with 175 passengers and six crew members onboard, was attempting to land shortly after 9 am local time (12 am Irish time) at Muan International Airport in the southern part of the country.
Fire officials have reported that investigators are scrutinizing bird strikes and weather conditions as potential factors in the crash. Experts highlight that many questions still remain, including why the aircraft, equipped with two CFM 56-7B26 engines, seemed to be traveling at a high speed and why its landing gear was not deployed as it skidded down the runway and hit a wall.
CFM International is a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran of France.
On the day of the incident, transport ministry officials revealed that as the pilot was making a scheduled approach, they reported a bird strike to air traffic control shortly after a warning was issued about birds in the area.
Investigators assess the wreckage of Jeju Air Co Flight 2216 at Muan International Airport.
Following that, the pilots declared a mayday and indicated their intention to circle back just before the aircraft belly-landed and crashed into a structure at the end of the runway.
The crash primarily claimed the lives of local residents returning from vacations in Thailand, along with two Thai nationals.
On Monday morning, investigators were working to identify some of the last remaining victims as heartbroken families awaited news inside the Muan airport terminal.
Park Han-shin, who lost his brother in the incident, reported that authorities confirmed his brother’s identification, though he had not yet been able to see his body.
Mr. Park urged other victims’ families to unite in their response to the disaster and recovery efforts, referencing a 2014 ferry disaster that led to the loss of over 300 lives, which was followed by a prolonged identification and investigation process.
Emergency responders were meticulously sifting through the wreckage, which had been nearly obliterated by flames and debris from the explosion at the regional airport located along the country’s rugged western coast.
Families of the Jeju Air crash victims gathered near a makeshift shelter at Muan International Airport.
Officials from the transportation ministry stated that while the jet’s flight data recorder was retrieved, it showed signs of exterior damage, and it remains uncertain if the data is intact enough for analysis.
Muan airport will remain closed until Wednesday; however, other international and regional airports, including the primary Incheon International Airport, are continuing operations as scheduled.
The shares of Jeju Air plunged to their lowest recorded level, dropping as much as 15.7% in value.
According to international aviation regulations, South Korea will spearhead a civil investigation into the crash, automatically involving the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) from the United States, where the aircraft was designed and manufactured.
The NTSB has stated it will lead a team of U.S. investigators to assist South Korea’s aviation authority, with participation from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration as well.
Mr. Choi, who has taken charge of the recovery efforts and investigation, became the acting leader just three days prior following the impeachment of the president and prime minister over the implementation of a brief martial law.
