Official announcements from South Korean aviation authorities

South Korea Identifies All 179 Victims of Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 Crash at Muan Airport, 2 Survive

Jan 1, 2025, 01:49 AM

South Korean authorities have confirmed the identification of all 179 victims of the Jeju Air plane crash, marking a significant step in the aftermath of the country's worst aviation disaster. The crash occurred on Sunday when Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 175 passengers and 4 crew members from Bangkok, attempted to land at Muan International Airport. The incident resulted in the deaths of all but two crew members, who survived the crash. The plane issued a mayday call and attempted a belly landing after a bird strike warning was issued by the control tower, ultimately crashing into a concrete barrier and bursting into flames. The crash has led to widespread cancellations of flight bookings, with Jeju Air reporting around 67,000 cancellations. Investigators are focusing on the landing gear of the aircraft, which failed to deploy properly during the crash, as a potential cause. The investigation is being aided by U.S. teams, including representatives from Boeing and the National Transportation Safety Board. Initial data has been extracted from one of the black boxes, with the flight data recorder being sent to the U.S. for further analysis due to damage. The crash has prompted a special inspection of all Boeing 737-800 models operated by South Korean airlines, and has led to a national period of mourning.