South Korean officials announced plans to inspect all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by the country's airlines following a tragic plane crash that claimed 179 lives. The crash, which occurred during a landing attempt, has raised concerns about aviation safety in South Korea.
The country's new acting President presided over a task force meeting to address the incident and emphasized the need to enhance aviation safety systems to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The crashed Boeing 737-800, operated by Jeju Air, experienced complications during its landing attempts, including a bird strike warning and a distress signal from the pilot. The plane ultimately landed without its front landing gear deployed, leading to a fiery crash.
While the aircraft model is different from the Boeing 737 Max involved in previous crashes, South Korea's Transport Ministry plans to conduct safety inspections on all Boeing 737-800 planes in operation. Representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing are expected to join the investigation.
Authorities are also looking into the construction of airport safety structures, such as the localizer at Muan airport, to assess their impact on aviation safety. Initial analysis suggests possible hydraulic failure and landing gear malfunction as contributing factors to the crash.
Following the crash, another Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 experienced a landing gear issue but safely returned to the airport. Concerns have been raised about communication between air traffic controllers and pilots during critical moments of flight.
The crash has prompted a national mourning period in South Korea, with authorities working to identify and return the victims' remains to their families. The investigation into the crash is expected to take months to complete.
This tragic incident has added to the challenges facing South Korea, already grappling with a political crisis and concerns about disaster management in the absence of top officials. The country mourns the loss of lives and seeks answers to prevent such disasters in the future.
