South Korean authorities have intensified their probe into the country’s deadliest aviation disaster by raiding the offices of Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport, police announced Thursday.
The crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 on Sunday claimed 179 lives, marking South Korea’s worst aviation tragedy on record.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, en route from Bangkok to Muan in southwestern South Korea, belly-landed, overshot the runway, and exploded into flames after colliding with an embankment. Two crew members seated in the tail section were rescued alive, though one remains in critical condition while the other is being treated for injuries, according to a transport ministry official.
Key evidence, including the cockpit voice recorder, has been converted into audio files for analysis. “This could provide crucial insights into the final moments of the flight,” said Joo Jong-wan, the deputy transport minister for civil aviation, during a media briefing on Thursday.
Police have also searched the offices of the transport ministry’s aviation authority and the airport operator in Muan, alongside Jeju Air’s headquarters in Seoul. Investigators are gathering documents related to the plane’s maintenance, operational procedures, and the airport’s infrastructure.
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A police official revealed that Jeju Air’s CEO Kim E-bae and another senior official have been banned from leaving the country. Both are considered key witnesses in the investigation and may face charges of causing deaths by negligence, punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of 20 million won ($13,600).
Jeju Air has pledged full cooperation with the investigation. “We are assisting authorities in their efforts to uncover the truth behind this tragedy,” said Song Kyeong-hoon, a director at the airline, during a press briefing.
Aviation safety experts have raised concerns about the embankment that played a critical role in the disaster. Designed to support a localizer antenna used for guiding aircraft landings, the structure has been criticized for being too rigid and dangerously close to the runway’s end. “This rigid structure proved catastrophic when the skidding aircraft made impact,” said Najmedin Meshkati, an engineering professor at the University of Southern California. He also noted that the antenna should have been mounted on a more standard metal tower or pylon.
Deputy Minister Joo acknowledged that the ministry has yet to clarify how recent airport upgrades led to the installation of the controversial structure. Nationwide inspections of similar localizer equipment are now underway.
The investigation into the crash has drawn in experts from South Korea, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Boeing. Authorities are seeking answers to critical questions, including why the plane failed to deploy its landing gear and why the pilot attempted a second landing after declaring an emergency due to a reported bird strike.
The flight data recorder, partially damaged in the crash, has been sent to the United States for further analysis with the NTSB’s assistance. Joo indicated that the audio files from the cockpit voice recorder might not be released publicly, as they are vital to the investigation.
South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok has called for immediate inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft in the country. “Given the public’s concerns, we must ensure rigorous checks of operations, maintenance, and training related to this aircraft model,” Choi stated during a disaster management meeting.
Choi also emphasized the need to support victims’ families and urged authorities to address misinformation and malicious online posts about the disaster. “No effort should be spared in assisting those affected and ensuring justice is served,” he added.
The tragedy has left South Korea grappling with questions about aviation safety and infrastructure, as investigators work to uncover the factors that led to this devastating accident.