South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an emergency safety inspection of the country's entire airline operation system following the nation's worst air disaster in decades. This directive came after a Jeju Air flight crashed at Muan International Airport, claiming 179 lives on December 28, 2024. The incident has shocked the nation and prompted immediate action to ensure such a tragedy does not recur. The catastrophic event unfolded when the Boeing 737-800, arriving from Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew members, skidded off the runway and crashed into a wall, erupting into a fireball. Initial reports suggested that the plane may have attempted to land without its landing gear deployed, potentially due to a bird strike or other technical failure. The crash is now under intense scrutiny, with both black boxes recovered for analysis to determine the exact cause.
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In response to the disaster, Choi announced the comprehensive review during a disaster management meeting in Seoul, emphasizing the urgency of identifying the victims, supporting their families, and ensuring the treatment of the two survivors. "Even before the final results are out, we ask that officials transparently disclose the accident investigation process and promptly inform the bereaved families," Choi stated, underscoring the government's commitment to transparency and support during this national tragedy. The inspection will encompass not just Jeju Air but all airlines operating in South Korea, focusing on maintenance procedures, safety protocols, and the overall operational integrity of aircraft. The Transport Ministry has been directed to commence these reviews once the recovery work from the Jeju Air crash is completed, ensuring that no aspect of airline safety is overlooked. This move comes when South Korea is grappling with political instability, with Choi having been in office for only a few days following the impeachment of the previous acting president amid a political crisis.
The crash has reignited discussions on aviation safety in South Korea, a country with a generally commendable safety record in commercial aviation. The last major incident on South Korean soil was in 2002, involving an Air China flight, but the scale of this disaster is unprecedented since the 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam. Jeju Air, one of South Korea's largest low-cost carriers, has vowed to cooperate fully with the investigation. The airline's CEO, Kim E-bae, has expressed deep remorse and is committed to aiding the bereaved families and the crash investigation. The airline has been operating since 2005 without a fatal accident until this incident, and it has now put its safety measures under the microscope.
The national mourning declared for seven days reflects the profound impact of the disaster on South Korea. Memorial altars have been set up across the country, and the government has mobilized resources for the identification and repatriation of victims. This tragedy has not only caused immense grief but also served as a stark reminder of the complexities and risks associated with aviation, prompting a reevaluation of safety standards and procedures across the board. As South Korea mourns, the focus now turns to ensuring that this disaster leads to meaningful changes in aviation safety, potentially setting new benchmarks for the industry both domestically and internationally.