South Korean Police Raid Jeju Air and Muan Airport Over Deadly Boeing 737 Crash

South Korean police raided the offices of Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport on Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation into a deadly crash involving a Boeing 737-800. The crash, which occurred on Sunday, claimed the lives of 179 people, leaving only two flight attendants alive after being rescued from the burning wreckage.

The flight, which was traveling from Thailand to South Korea, issued a mayday call before attempting an emergency belly landing, crashing into a barrier. Authorities conducted search and seizure operations at three locations: Muan Airport, the regional aviation office in the southwestern city, and Jeju Air’s headquarters in Seoul.

South Korean and U.S. investigators, including officials from Boeing, have been working at the crash site to determine the cause of the accident. Both black boxes have been recovered, with the cockpit voice recorder’s data already extracted. However, the flight data recorder was damaged and is being sent to the United States for further analysis.

South Korean police confirmed that the search and seizure began at 9 a.m. (0000 GMT) on January 2. In response to public concern over the model involved in the crash, Transport Minister Choi said a thorough inspection of aircraft operations, maintenance, training, and education would be conducted. He stressed the need for immediate corrective actions if any issues are discovered.

The crash is the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korean history. Authorities have considered several potential causes for the disaster, including a bird strike and a concrete barrier at the end of the runway, which the plane struck before bursting into flames.

In the wake of the tragedy, families of the victims have been visiting the crash site to honor their loved ones. Some mourners returned to the site with cardboard boxes to collect their relatives’ belongings. On Thursday, a monk led prayers near the site, while the airport’s stairs were covered with colorful post-it notes, expressing the grief of those mourning the loss of their family members.

One note read, “Honey, I miss you way too much,” while another said, “Even if you faced lonely and painful moments in death, may you now soar like a butterfly.” Mourners also left flowers and food, including tteokguk (rice cake soup), a traditional dish for New Year’s Day in South Korea.

A handwritten note, seemingly from the pilot’s brother, was placed at the site alongside gimbap (Korean rice rolls) and a drink. “I feel heartbroken when I think about the struggles you faced alone (in your last moments),” the note said. “You were truly amazing and did so well, so I hope you can now find happiness in a warm place. Thank you, and I’m sorry.”

On Wednesday, a public holiday in South Korea, hundreds of people lined up to pay their respects at a memorial altar at the airport. The long queue stretched for hundreds of meters, and the local cell phone network was overwhelmed. Additional memorial altars for the victims have been set up across the country.