South Korea Launches Investigation into Deadly Jeju Air Crash

South Korea is reeling from its deadliest air disaster as investigators work to determine the cause of the crash involving a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 at Muan International Airport. The incident claimed the lives of 175 passengers and four crew members, while two crew members survived with injuries. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an emergency safety inspection of the nation’s entire airline operation system.

Crash Details:

• The flight, Jeju Air 7C2216, was arriving from Bangkok and attempted to land at Muan International Airport around 9 a.m. local time on Sunday.
• The plane reportedly suffered a bird strike shortly after being warned of birds in the vicinity.
• The pilots issued a mayday signal, intending to abort the landing, but the aircraft belly-landed, skidding 1,200 meters down the runway before hitting a wall and erupting in flames.

Investigation Focus:

Authorities are exploring several factors, including:

• Bird Strikes: The pilots reported bird strikes just before the crash.
• Landing Gear Issues: The landing gear was not deployed during the belly landing.
• Runway Safety: The role of the localizer antenna and the presence of a wall at the runway’s end are under scrutiny. Experts suggest such walls are unusual, with engineered systems typically used to prevent accidents.
• Flight Speed: Analysts are questioning why the plane appeared to be traveling faster than usual during its approach.

The flight data recorder has been recovered, though it sustained damage. It remains unclear if the data can be fully analyzed.

Human Impact:

The crash primarily claimed the lives of South Korean nationals returning from holidays in Thailand, along with two Thai nationals.

• Families are struggling with grief as investigators work to identify the remaining victims.
• A memorial site has been established near the crash site, where acting President Choi and others have paid their respects.

Broader Safety Measures:

• Acting President Choi emphasized transparency in the investigation and ordered the transport ministry to inspect the operational safety of all Boeing 737-800s in the country.
• South Korea will lead the civil investigation with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and the FAA.

Impact on Jeju Air:

Shares of Jeju Air plunged 15.7%, hitting their lowest level ever. Muan International Airport remains closed until Wednesday, while other airports, including Incheon International Airport, continue normal operations.