179 fatalities in the country’s worst aviation disaster prompt urgent safety checks and investigation into causes.

South Korea’s Acting President, Choi Sang-mok, ordered an immediate safety review of the nation’s entire aviation system on December 30, following the country’s deadliest air disaster, which claimed the lives of 179 people. The incident, involving a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, occurred on December 29 when the aircraft belly-landed at Muan International Airport, skidded off the runway, and collided with a wall, resulting in a massive fireball.

Among the 181 people aboard the flight, 175 passengers and four crew members perished, while two crew members survived. The incident has prompted an intensive investigation to identify the victims and determine the cause of the crash. At a disaster management meeting in Seoul, President Choi emphasised the importance of transparency in the investigation process and urged officials to inform the victims’ families as soon as possible.

As part of the response, the Ministry of Transport announced that a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean carriers would begin immediately, with a focus on the maintenance records of critical components. This is in line with the government’s priority to ensure that such accidents do not occur again.

The Jeju Air flight, arriving from Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew, had declared a mayday after suffering a bird strike, which was reported shortly after air traffic control had issued a warning about birds in the vicinity. The pilots, after announcing an emergency, attempted a go-around before the plane ultimately executed a belly landing about 1,200 metres down the 2,800-metre runway, crashing into a structure at the end of the runway.

A key area of investigation is the role of the localiser antenna, which helps with landing guidance, and whether its placement contributed to the severity of the crash. Flight safety expert Christian Beckert pointed out that standard practice typically involves an engineered material arresting system, rather than a wall at the end of the runway, to safely halt a plane in such circumstances.

The crash resulted in the tragic loss of life, including local residents returning from Thailand, with two Thai nationals also among the dead. Families of the victims, including those waiting at Muan airport for identification news, have expressed their grief while calling for swift and thorough recovery efforts. Park Han-shin, who lost his brother in the crash, stressed the importance of collective action in supporting the recovery process.

The flight’s data recorder has been recovered but showed signs of external damage, and it is yet to be determined whether the data is intact for analysis. Investigations will proceed with the assistance of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing, who are expected to arrive in South Korea by December 30 to assist in the examination of the wreckage.

The Muan airport, where the crash occurred, will remain closed until January 2, while other airports in the country are operating normally. The crash has had significant financial repercussions for Jeju Air, with its share price falling by 15.7% on December 30.

Under international aviation regulations, South Korea will lead the investigation, but as the plane was designed and built in the US, the NTSB will automatically be involved in the process. A memorial has been established near the crash site, where people, including President Choi, have paid their respects to those lost in the tragedy.