Seoul, December 23 - On December 29, 2024, Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 people from Bangkok to Muan International Airport in South Korea, suffered a catastrophic crash. The aircraft, after reporting a bird strike, attempted a belly landing without deploying its landing gear. It overshot the runway and collided with a concrete embankment supporting navigation equipment, erupting into flames. This Jeju Air plane crash at Muan airport resulted in 179 fatalities, marking the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil and the worst involving a domestic carrier in decades. Only two crew members survived the intense fireball.
Preliminary investigations by the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board pointed to a bird strike as a primary factor, with interim reports noting damage to both engines and suggestions of possible pilot error in engine management. Concerns arose over airport infrastructure, including the elevated risk of bird strikes at Muan, South Korea's highest among regional airports, and the rigid concrete structure at the runway's end, which experts noted deviated from international recommendations for frangible designs that collapse on impact.
In a significant development, South Korea's National Assembly, on December 22, 2025, overwhelmingly approved a cross-party parliamentary investigation into the Jeju Air crash tragedy. The 18-member special committee, comprising representatives from major parties, will conduct a 40-day probe, extendable if necessary, with powers to summon officials from the transport ministry, Korea Airports Corporation, and Jeju Air for hearings and document reviews.
This bipartisan inquiry aims to thoroughly examine the Jeju Air flight crash causes, including bird strike prevention measures, potential mechanical defects, runway safety standards, and any lapses in the ongoing government-led probe. By establishing an independent parliamentary review, South Korea seeks to ensure transparency and accountability in uncovering the full circumstances behind one of its most devastating aviation incidents.
