The tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 123 on December 29th, 2024 sent shockwaves through South Korea and the global aviation community. In the wake of this disaster that claimed 179 lives, the nation’s acting president Choi Sang-mok has ordered an emergency safety inspection of all airline operations in the country.
Comprehensive Airline Audit Ordered
President Choi, who took office just two days before the crash, announced a sweeping review of South Korea’s aviation safety protocols and oversight. The audit will encompass all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft currently in operation by the nation’s carriers.
“An exhaustive inspection is essential to overhaul the aviation safety system and move toward a safer Republic of Korea," declared President Choi in a somber address to the nation.
US investigators, likely including representatives from Boeing, will join their South Korean counterparts in parsing out the cause of the deadly accident. Preliminary findings indicate the Jeju Air plane attempted to land without its landing gear fully deployed, resulting in a disastrous “belly landing” and subsequent impact with an airport wall.
Plane’s Black Boxes Recovered
Authorities have retrieved the downed aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the wreckage. However, damage to the devices may hamper efforts to swiftly determine the precise sequence of events leading up to the crash.
According to a land ministry official, investigators are examining the possibility that a bird strike, inclement weather, or a combination of factors may have contributed to the pilots’ inability to properly deploy the landing gear. A conclusive determination of the cause is expected to require several months.
Airline Faces Scrutiny and Backlash
In a tearful press conference, Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae pledged the low-cost carrier’s full cooperation with the investigation. “I take full responsibility for this crash, irrespective of the cause,” stated an emotional Kim as he bowed in apology alongside other somber executives.
The airline’s assurances of support for the victims’ families did little to assuage the anger and grief of those who lost loved ones. Kim was met with outrage when he attempted to address the families in person at Muan Airport.
A Nation in Mourning
As South Korea observes an official week of mourning, the focus remains on supporting the families of the 179 passengers and crew who perished. Of the victims identified thus far, 141 were South Korean nationals, joined by 2 passengers from Thailand.
“I had a son on board that plane,” lamented an elderly man at the airport, his voice trembling with anguish. For far too many, the ill-fated flight has left an irreparable void.
The Jeju Air tragedy marks the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil in nearly three decades, since the 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam that killed 228. As investigators work to unravel the cause and craft policies to prevent future catastrophes, a nation in mourning seeks solace and answers in the face of unfathomable loss.
