The tragic crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216 in South Korea on Sunday, which claimed 179 lives, has sparked an intense investigation into the cause of the disaster. The flight, a Boeing 737-800 en route from Bangkok, lost control during its descent into Muan International Airport, with only two survivors out of the 181 on board.
The families of the victims, including 175 passengers and four crew members, have gathered at the crash site to demand answers from authorities. Many have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency in the investigation, pushing for clearer communication about the cause of the crash. A memorial altar has been set up at the airport, where nuns have paid tribute to the lives lost.
One significant point of focus is the airport’s design, particularly a large embankment located just 250 meters from the end of the runway. This structure, which supports navigation equipment, is much closer to the runway than is generally considered safe. Some aviation experts believe that this embankment may have worsened the crash impact, throwing passengers into nearby fields. Although South Korean officials maintain that the embankment was built to standard, there are growing calls to reassess its placement and the regulations surrounding it. The government has promised to review its safety compliance.
While the cause of the crash remains unclear, early speculations suggest a potential bird strike. However, experts doubt that a bird strike alone could have disabled the plane’s landing gear, which failed during the crash. Investigators are also examining whether other control systems may have malfunctioned. Jeju Air’s CEO, Kim Yi-bae, confirmed that no pre-flight issues were reported, and the aircraft passed all safety checks.
The investigation has been further complicated by damage to the plane’s flight data recorder, which is missing key data, though the cockpit voice recorder remains intact. To speed up victim identification, the National Police Agency has brought in additional officials and employed rapid DNA analyzers.
As the nation mourns, newly appointed acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered a nationwide inspection of the airline industry and promised support for the victims’ families. A seven-day national mourning period has been declared, with memorials set up across the country. The investigation has drawn in experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Boeing, who are all working to uncover the truth behind this devastating crash. Authorities are under pressure to ensure a swift and transparent investigation, avoiding a repeat of the mishandled Sewol ferry disaster of 2014.
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