South Korea to Inspect Boeing 737-800s After Deadly Crash
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean authorities announced Monday that they will inspect all Boeing 737-800 planes operated domestically, following a crash that claimed 179 lives the previous day.
Sunday’s aviation accident, the nation’s worst in decades, prompted widespread grief and concern about the government’s response, especially given the recent impeachments of the President and Prime Minister and the political instability following the President’s brief declaration of martial law earlier this month.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok chaired a task force meeting on Monday, ordering an urgent review of national aviation systems.
Choi, also the deputy prime minister and finance minister, stated that a comprehensive overhaul of aviation safety protocols is crucial to prevent future tragedies and enhance the safety of the Republic of South Korea.
The Boeing 737-800, operated by Jeju Air, initially aborted its landing attempt for unclear reasons. During the second attempt, ground control issued a bird strike warning before the pilot reported an emergency. The plane landed without its front landing gear, veered off the runway, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire.
Alan Price, a former Delta Air Lines chief pilot and consultant, described the Boeing 737-800 as a reliable aircraft, distinct from the models involved in fatal accidents in 2018 and 2019.
However, South Korea’s Transport Ministry announced plans to inspect all 101 Boeing 737-800 planes in the country and conduct a broader safety review of Jeju Air, which operates 39 of these aircraft. Senior ministry official Joo Jong-wan stated that representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing were expected to arrive in South Korea on Monday to assist in the investigation.
Ministry officials will also investigate whether the Muan airport’s localizer, a concrete barrier with antennas guiding aircraft landings, should have been constructed from less-resistant materials.
Joo confirmed that similar concrete structures exist at other airports domestically and internationally, including in Jeju Island, Yeosu, Pohang (South Korea), and airports in the United States, Spain, and South Africa.
Video footage of the crash suggests that the pilots failed to deploy flaps or slats to slow the plane, possibly indicating a hydraulic failure, and did not manually lower the landing gear, suggesting a lack of time, according to John Cox, a retired airline pilot and CEO of Safety Operating Systems.
Despite this, the aircraft remained under control and straight, and Cox stated that damage and injuries would have been minimized had the barrier not been so close to the runway.
Other observers noted suspected engine trouble in the videos, but suggested the landing gear malfunction was the primary cause of the crash, unlikely linked to any engine problems.
Earlier Monday, another Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 returned to Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport after takeoff due to a reported landing gear issue. Jeju Air executive Song Kyung-hoon stated that the problem was resolved through communication with ground control, but the pilot returned to Gimpo as a precaution.
Joo mentioned that authorities are investigating potential communication problems between air traffic controllers and the pilot, noting communication difficulties during the go-around process preceding the landing and crash.
Ministry officials stated that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been moved to a Gimpo airport research center for analysis. The ministry previously indicated that the investigation could take months.
The Muan crash is South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster since 1997, when a Korean Airlines plane crashed in Guam, killing 228.
The crash shocked and saddened South Koreans, prompting a seven-day national mourning period through January 4th. Concerns have been raised about potential safety or regulatory issues in relation to the crash, referencing a 2022 incident in Seoul (160 fatalities) and a 2014 incident (304 fatalities).
The Transport Ministry reported the identification of 146 bodies, with DNA and fingerprint collection underway for the remaining 33.
Park Han Shin, representing the bereaved families, stated that the extensive damage to the bodies requires additional time before their return to families, urging the government to expedite the process.
“I demand that the government mobilize more personnel to return our brothers and family members as intact as possible more swiftly,” he said, choking down tears.
The crash adds to the challenges facing South Koreans already grappling with a political crisis stemming from Yoon’s martial law declaration, which deployed troops to Seoul streets and evoked memories of past military rule.
The political turmoil led to the impeachment of Yoon and Han by the opposition-controlled National Assembly. The safety minister resigned, and the police chief was arrested for their roles in the event.
The absence of key disaster management officials has raised concerns.
“We are deeply worried whether the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters really can handle the disaster,” the mass-circulation JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial Monday.