Another Jeju Air Plane Forced to Return Due to Landing Gear Malfunction
A Jeju Air flight was forced to return to Seoul on Monday morning after experiencing a landing gear malfunction, less than 24 hours after a deadly crash involving another Jeju Air plane.
The earlier tragedy, which took place on Sunday, involved a Boeing 737-800 aircraft carrying 181 passengers that crash-landed and burst into flames in South Korea, leaving 179 people dead. The plane, returning from Bangkok, Thailand, failed to deploy its front landing gear, causing the aircraft to skid off the runway at Jeju International Airport and crash into a concrete fence. Emergency services responded quickly, but only two survivors were confirmed in what has been described as South Korea’s deadliest aviation accident in recent years.
On Monday, Jeju Air Flight 7C101 took off from Gimpo Airport in Seoul at 7:30 a.m. en route to Jeju Island with 161 passengers on board. Shortly after takeoff, the pilots reported a landing gear issue and informed passengers about the problem. The plane circled the area for about 40 minutes before safely returning to Gimpo Airport.
The aircraft involved was also a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, the same model as the plane in Sunday’s fatal crash. A Jeju Air official explained that the return was a precautionary measure and assured passengers that those who voluntarily deboarded would receive a full refund, while those who remained would be compensated for the delay.
In light of the safety concerns, 21 passengers chose not to reboard the replacement flight, which was arranged to depart at 8:30 a.m. with the remaining passengers. The replacement aircraft was also a Boeing 737-800.
These back-to-back incidents have raised serious questions about the safety and maintenance of Jeju Air’s fleet, with the airline now under intense scrutiny. Aviation experts are calling for a thorough review of the airline’s safety protocols to restore public confidence.
The South Korean aviation authorities have launched investigations into both incidents, with preliminary findings expected in the coming weeks.
