South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has called for an immediate safety inspection of the country’s airline operations, just one day after the tragic crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport, which claimed the lives of 179 people.
Jeju Air flight 2216, which was travelling from Bangkok to Muan in the southwest of the country, crashed after skidding off the airport's runway and colliding with a wall following a belly landing on 29 December 2024. The accident resulted in the deaths of all passengers on-board and all but two crew members, who were seated at the rear of the aircraft.
In response to the crash, South Korea’s acting president has ordered an immediate inspection of the country’s airline operations.
"Once the accident recovery process is completed, the transport ministry is instructed to carry out an emergency safety inspection of the entire aviation system to prevent any recurrence of such incidents," said Choi Sang-mok.
The South Korean transport ministry announced it would begin inspections of all 101 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines, focusing on the maintenance records of key components.
Speaking at a disaster management meeting in Seoul on 30 December 2024, Choi also stressed the importance of identifying victims, supporting their families, and ensuring the care of the two survivors of the crash.
South Korean transport officials reported that the 737-800 encountered difficulties during its approach to land at Muan. They noted that the control tower at Muan International Airport received an “emergency declaration” from the pilot of flight 2216 at 8:59 a.m. local time. The pilot requested a go-around due to a bird strike.
Jeju Air’s CEO and president, Kim Eui-bae, acknowledged the difficulty in determining the exact cause of the crash: “We await the results of an official investigation by the relevant authorities. Regardless of the cause, as the company’s highest-ranking executive, I take full responsibility for this tragic event.”
“We are doing everything we can to recover from the accident as quickly as possible and to provide the utmost support to the families of the passengers. Furthermore, we will fully cooperate with the government in uncovering the cause of the accident and are committed to implementing all necessary measures,” he added.
The aircraft involved in the crash, a 737-800 acquired by Jeju Air in 2017, had previously operated for Ryanair from 2009 to 2016.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, has stated that it is in contact with Jeju Air and will provide support during the crash investigation.