Jeju Air Boss Reports No Safety Concerns Identified in Pre-Flight Inspections Prior to Plane Crash
On Sunday, 179 people lost their lives in an air crash in South Korea.
Jeju Air’s CEO confirmed that no safety issues were detected during pre-flight checks before the tragic crash of one of their planes at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
The cause of the crash that claimed the lives of 179 passengers on the Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air remains unknown.
During a news conference in Seoul on December 31, Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae stated that the plane passed inspections without any issues on the day of the flight, as reported by local South Korean media and the BBC.
E-bae also announced that the company will reduce operations by 10–15 percent until March 2025.
Regarding compensation for families affected by the tragedy, he mentioned that detailed discussions are ongoing with domestic and international insurers to facilitate the settlement process.
A national mourning period of seven days has been declared until January 4.
All 175 passengers and four crew members onboard the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 lost their lives in the emergency landing at Muan International Airport, with two crew members miraculously surviving. Their firsthand accounts leading up to the crash could be crucial to the investigation.
This incident marks South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster since 1997.
The South Korean government initiated safety inspections on all 101 Boeing 737-800s in the country, set to conclude by January 3.
Bereaved families were informed that bodies were severely damaged, requiring time to be returned to relatives.
Officials are scrutinizing various factors like bird strikes, control systems, pilot actions, airport design, and the runway’s concrete embankment that the plane collided with.
Muan International Airport remains closed until January 1, while other airports in the country, including Incheon International Airport, are operational.
He emphasized the need for transparency in the accident investigation process and swift communication with the affected families.
Political Strife
The country faced turbulence in December with the brief imposition of martial law to combat alleged North Korean subversion, currently under investigation for potential insurrection charges.
Yoon’s impeachment on December 14 and refusal to appear for questioning led to the unprecedented arrest warrant for an incumbent president.
Chris Summers, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report.
