South Korea Orders Air Safety Investigation After Deadliest Crash Claims 179 Lives

South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered an urgent safety review of the nation’s airline operations following the deadliest aviation disaster in the country’s history, which resulted in 179 fatalities.

Investigators are working to identify the victims and determine the cause of the tragic incident, which occurred when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 made a belly landing and skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport, igniting a fire after crashing into a concrete wall.

Of the 181 people aboard the flight, only two crew members survived. The victims included 175 passengers, most of whom were South Korean nationals returning from vacations in Thailand, and four crew members. Two Thai nationals were also among the deceased.

During a disaster management meeting in Seoul on Monday, Choi stressed the importance of supporting the victims’ families and ensuring such a tragedy does not happen again.

“Even before the final results are out, we ask that officials transparently disclose the accident investigation process and promptly inform the bereaved families,” Choi said.

He also instructed the Ministry of Transport to carry out a nationwide emergency inspection of the country’s airline operations, focusing on maintenance records and safety protocols. The ministry has launched a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines.

The Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which had arrived from Bangkok, was attempting 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 ultimately made a belly landing, touching down 1,200 meters down the 2,800-meter runway. The aircraft then skidded into a concrete embankment, which caused a massive explosion and fire.

Transportation ministry officials are now looking into whether the localizer antenna at the end of the runway and the concrete embankment played a role in the crash. Flight safety expert Christian Beckert questioned the presence of the wall, commenting, “Normally, on an airport with a runway at the end, you don’t have a wall. You would expect an engineered material arresting system that allows the plane to sink into the ground and decelerates it.”

For the families of the victims, the loss was devastating. At the airport terminal, relatives anxiously awaited news of their loved ones. Boonchuay Duangmanee, 77, who lost her daughter in the crash, said, “I can only accept it, make peace with it. No matter what I do, my daughter won’t come back.”

Another grieving family member, Park Han-shin, who lost his brother, called for unity among the families to demand justice and accountability, citing the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, which killed over 300 people. “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 has been recovered, though some exterior damage was reported. A team of investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing are set to assist with the analysis in Seoul.

As per international aviation regulations, South Korea will lead the civil investigation, while collaborating with U.S. authorities due to the aircraft being designed and built in the United States.

A memorial for the victims has been set up in a gymnasium near the crash site, where acting President Choi paid his respects.

Muan International Airport will remain closed until Wednesday, but other airports, including Incheon International Airport, continue to operate as usual.

In the wake of the disaster, Jeju Air’s stock price plummeted by 15.7% on Monday, reaching a record low.