South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok has ordered an emergency safety inspection of the nation’s airline operations following the country’s deadliest aviation disaster which claimed 179 lives.
Investigators were working to identify the victims and determine the cause of the tragedy which occurred when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport, bursting into flames after hitting a concrete wall.
Of the 181 people onboard, only two crew members survived the crash. The victims include 175 passengers and four crew members, with most of the passengers being local residents returning from holidays in Thailand. Two Thai nationals were also among the deceased.
Addressing a disaster management meeting in Seoul on Monday, Choi emphasised the urgency of supporting victims’ families and preventing similar tragedies.
“Even before the final results are out, we ask that officials transparently disclose the accident investigation process and promptly inform the bereaved families,” he stated.
Choi also directed the transport ministry to conduct a nationwide emergency inspection of the country’s airline operations, focusing on maintenance records and safety measures. The ministry has initiated a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from Bangkok, attempted to land at Muan International Airport shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday when the accident occurred.
Investigators revealed that the pilots had declared a mayday after reporting a bird strike near the airport. They initially planned to abort the landing and go around but ended up making a belly landing, touching down 1,200 meters along the 2,800-meter runway. The aircraft slid into a concrete embankment, causing the explosion and fire.
Transportation ministry officials were investigating whether the localizer antenna, located at the runway’s end, and the concrete embankment contributed to the crash.
A flight safety expert, Christian Beckert questioned the presence of the wall, stating, “Normally, on an airport with a runway at the end, you don’t have a wall. You more have maybe an engineered material arresting system, which lets the airplane sink into the ground and brakes it.”
For families, the tragedy was devastating. At the airport terminal, relatives anxiously waited for news of their loved ones. “I can only accept it, make peace with it,” said Boonchuay Duangmanee, 77, whose daughter was one of the two Thai victims. “No matter what I do, my daughter won’t come back.”
Another bereaved man, Park Han-shin, who lost his brother, urged families to unite in seeking answers and ensuring accountability, referencing the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster that claimed over 300 lives. “We need to work together to demand a thorough investigation and proper support for the victims’ families,” he said.
The aircraft’s flight data recorder was recovered, although initial reports suggested some exterior damage. A team of investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing was set to assist with the analysis in Seoul.
Under international aviation rules, South Korea will lead the civil investigation while collaborating with U.S. authorities, as the aircraft was designed and built in the United States.
A memorial for the victims was established in a gymnasium near the crash site, with acting President Choi paying his respects.
Muan International Airport remains closed until Wednesday, though other airports, including Incheon International Airport are operating as scheduled.
Shares of Jeju Air plummeted to a record low on Monday, dropping 15.7% in the wake of the disaster.
