An analysis of video footage from Sunday's tragic crash-landing of Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 suggests that the aircraft's landing gear may not have been deployed. Transport analyst Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general of the US Department of Transportation, pointed out that one of the engines could have failed, the plane's indicators might have been damaged, or the pilot could have been attempting a 'go-around' maneuver to check the landing gear status.
The flight, a Boeing 737-800, was en route from Bangkok to Muan International Airport with 175 passengers and six crew members on board. The incident occurred during a busy holiday travel period, with families celebrating the festive season, as noted by Schiavo from Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Despite the tragedy, Schiavo highlighted that South Korea maintains a high aviation safety rating, being classified as Category 1 in the US Federal Aviation Administration's International Aviation Safety Assessment Program. She also mentioned the rapid growth of the aviation industry in South Korea, Thailand, and Southeast Asia, emphasizing the importance of regulators keeping pace with this expansion to ensure safety.
